4 The oil tanker drivers’ dispute and the road hauliers’ strike
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John Shepherd
Abstract
This chapter explores the causes, character and impact of the large scale industrial action by lorry drivers and the interplay of forces between government, unions and employers at the centre of the 'winter of discontent' that swept Britain. These two industrial disputes also throw significant light on the state's contingency plans for crisis management in industrial relations. There was a considerable difference between Transport House and Whitehall in London and the various areas where the road hauliers' strike took a strong hold through the lay membership rather than union officials. The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) soon made the strike official in an attempt by its leadership to secure control over the dispute. In January 1979 pay policy dominated Cabinet discussions. In Parliament, Margaret Thatcher called for a declaration of a state of emergency to deal with the road hauliers' strike.
Abstract
This chapter explores the causes, character and impact of the large scale industrial action by lorry drivers and the interplay of forces between government, unions and employers at the centre of the 'winter of discontent' that swept Britain. These two industrial disputes also throw significant light on the state's contingency plans for crisis management in industrial relations. There was a considerable difference between Transport House and Whitehall in London and the various areas where the road hauliers' strike took a strong hold through the lay membership rather than union officials. The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) soon made the strike official in an attempt by its leadership to secure control over the dispute. In January 1979 pay policy dominated Cabinet discussions. In Parliament, Margaret Thatcher called for a declaration of a state of emergency to deal with the road hauliers' strike.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xii
- 1 The 1970s 1
- 2 Election deferred and the collapse of the social contract 18
- 3 The Ford strike, 1978 38
- 4 The oil tanker drivers’ dispute and the road hauliers’ strike 59
- 5 Public sector strikes 82
- 6 Media coverage 108
- 7 The Conservative Party and the ‘winter of discontent’ 130
- 8 Political aftermath 147
- 9 In conclusion 168
- ‘Winter of discontent’, 1978–79 176
- Bibliography 179
- Index 196
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xii
- 1 The 1970s 1
- 2 Election deferred and the collapse of the social contract 18
- 3 The Ford strike, 1978 38
- 4 The oil tanker drivers’ dispute and the road hauliers’ strike 59
- 5 Public sector strikes 82
- 6 Media coverage 108
- 7 The Conservative Party and the ‘winter of discontent’ 130
- 8 Political aftermath 147
- 9 In conclusion 168
- ‘Winter of discontent’, 1978–79 176
- Bibliography 179
- Index 196
