Public-Sector Strikes in the 'Winter of Discontent'. Issue 36 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seifert, Roger
• Is Part Of: Historical studies in industrial relations. Issue 36(2015)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Industrial relations -- History -- Periodicals; Industrial relations; History; Periodicals; 331.09
• DOI: 10.3828/hsir.2015.36.9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1362-1572

Abstract

Abstract : John Shepherd's chapter on public-sector strikes provides a useful overview of what happened, giving due weight to the plight of both the low-paid manual workers and their trade-union leaders. However, he tends to ignore the sector-by-sector negotiations; he lacks understanding of the politics inside each union; and he ignores the vital role of left groupings (especially the Communist Party) in the strikes. He is over-reliant on accounts by political leaders, with the benefit of hindsight, and fails to appreciate the nature of struggle, in particular the difficulty of striking against the state.