Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was a significant consequence of wildcat strikes for the Labour Party in the 1960s?
What percentage of strike action throughout the 1960s was unofficial?
In what year did the number of workdays lost to strikes peak during the 1960s?
What role did shop stewards play in the public perception of strikes in the 1960s?
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What was the average number of workdays lost to strikes each year throughout the 1960s before the spike in 1968?
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Study Notes
Wildcat Strikes in the 1960s
- Wildcat strikes, unsanctioned by unions (TUC), increased steadily throughout the 1960s.
- Wilson (likely a political figure) was hesitant to intervene.
- Shop stewards were depicted as power-hungry figures, gaining public acceptance.
- Union actions were linked to the wider labour movement.
- This was a significant political problem for the Labour party, who were perceived as sympathetic to the unions due to shared history.
- The potential for voter backlash was clear to Wilson.
- 90% of strike action was unofficial, making controlling members difficult for the TUC leadership.
- An average of 3 million lost workdays due to strikes each year in the 1960s.
- In 1968, lost workdays surged to 4.7 million, labelled "the year of the strike" by The Times.
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Description
Explore the surge of wildcat strikes during the 1960s, unsanctioned by unions, and their impact on the Labour party and the broader labour movement. Delve into the political ramifications faced by Wilson and the challenges of TUC leadership amidst rising unofficial strike actions.
