{"product_id":"9781802078503-unite-history-volume-5-1974-1992","title":"UNITE History Volume 5 (1974-1992)","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU): From Zenith to Nadir?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSold as a multi-volume set – the individual volumes are also available for purchase.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis volume traces the history of the TGWU from its zenith in the period of the Labour Government to its nadir in 1992. It easily divides itself into two distinct periods. The first from 1974-79 saw a reforming Labour government which, recognising trade union strength, was determined to ‘bring about a fundamental and irreversible shift in the balance of power and wealth in favour of working people’. It marked the zenith of the TGWU in which the union played an important role, overseeing the repeal of anti-union Industrial Relation Act, and the enactment of a raft of pro-worker legislation. But this was insufficient to sustain the 'Social Contract' between the Labour Government and the Trade Unions– leading to the ‘Winter of Discontent’ and the Tory election victory of 1979.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe second period, 1979-92, witnessed the nadir of the TGWU. A right wing Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher, was determined to reverse all the gains of preceding Labour administrations. Anti-union legislation and the cruel tool of unemployment created the economic and political conditions to decimate trade unions. Defensive struggles could not stop the defeats suffered by car workers, miners, printers and dockers.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrade union membership declined in the Thatcher years, leading to a bleak period of industrial defeat and union retrenchment, characterised by mergers and reorganisation - mitigated only by positive moves to tackle endemic racism and sexism in an attempt to involve previously disregarded women and black workers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40828213133409,"sku":"9781802078503","price":7.94,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_28055634.jpg?v=1722276538","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781802078503-unite-history-volume-5-1974-1992","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}