In discussion it was argued that the Government should not appear to use the three-day week as a threat to the unions. WORK ID: NEFA 12610 (Master Record) Footage believed to have been shot by Durham Police Constabulary of pickets at Usworth Colliery near Sunderland during the miner's strike of 1972. Arab countries reduced supplies to the West. An exception was the Daily Mirror, which ran an emotive campaign to support the NUM. They are demanding a 9 a week pay rise on top of an average wage of 25. Then one day, I went in to M&S and was told I wouldnt be needed any more, as the 3 day week had ended. In an episode of popular sitcom Are You Being Served? Tories said they had all the answers?. McGahey called in a speech for the army to disobey orders, and either stay in the barracks or join picket lines, if they were asked to break the strike. The Central Electricity Generating Board, which oversaw Miners' Strike - Key takeaways. I was there then. Wilberforce Inquiry) started to investigate the coal miners demands as the Miners On the second day, peak-period power cuts totalled 31%. The strike occurred because wage negotiations between the NUM and the National Coal Board of the United Kingdom had broken down. I was working in Aeroquip in Wales, at the time. But the situation was already serious enough. The incident cast a long shadow over the UK for the next decade. That kept me entertained for hours," one youngster recalled. In 1972 the NUM called a strike for wage increases, after a vote by its members. The strike started on 5 February, and with the Three Day On November 13, the day before the nation celebrated the wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Conservative prime minister Edward Heath declared a state of emergency. To tackle this, the government capped public sector pay rises and publicly promoted a clear capped level to the private sector. power stations. General Election more on that shortly. This caused unrest amongst trade unions as wages did not keep pace with price increases. Thatcher, who was a member of the Heath government back in 1974, learned lessons from the Three Day Week and ensured coal supplies were well stocked ahead of the next major dispute with the miners in 1984-85. the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Margaret Thatcher has seen how the 1974 strike had brought down the Heath government by shutting down power stations through picketing and secondary support by other unions, and was determined not to let this happen again. The football authorities asked the government for permission to play matches on Sunday and on January 6, 1974, the first ever Sunday FA Cup games were played. It means consumers will face longer power cuts, up from six to nine . Heath believed that the public sided with the Conservatives on the issues of strikes and union power. The Dole office asked which days we had no Power, so we told that our power was off Mon-Wed and were given Dole Money for those days. In 1984, for reasons which we examine, it had to be miners picketing out miners. A good place to start would be some of the links included in the article, this one for example, refers to some of the debates within the Cabinet at the time: https://hatfulofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/40-years-since-the-beginning-of-the-three-day-week/, Similarly, there are some useful articles in the BBC archives http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/16/newsid_2757000/2757099.stm. He received a 60 fine. another offer from the National Coal Board, the state-owned body running the Week already into its second month, Prime Minister Heath called a snap election. although this limit was lifted on 8 February after the Prime Minister called a By October inflation was spiralling, resulting in miners real-terms It carried the slogan Remember the last time the The national conference passed resolutions for a 35% wage increase, regardless of any government guidelines, and for the election of a Labour government committed to "true socialist policy" including nationalisation of land and all key monopolies. [4] Unlike in 1972, students were discouraged from joining miners' picket lines. The strike was characterised by the miners sending flying pickets to other industrial sites to persuade other workers to strike in solidarity, which led to railway workers' refusing to transport coal and power station workers' refusing to handle coal. relationship between ministers and the miners. Television broadcasts were to shut down at 22:30 each evening, and most pubs were closed; due to the power surges generated at 22:30, the Central Electricity Generating Board argued for a staggered shutdown on BBC and ITV, alternating nightly, and this was eventually introduced. 'The worst power cuts since the fuel crisis of 1947', declared the Financial Times, which listed firms and industries across the country which were hit by power cuts. There were signs that many companies, large and small, would soon be in difficulties, and this could have wide repercussions throughout the economy. We would have candles and mum made us all Bovril to drink. With the price of coal rising too and stocks dwindling, Britain's miners rejected a pay increase and voted to ballot for a national strike. From 1 January 1974, commercial users of electricity were limited to three specified consecutive days' consumption each week and prohibited from working longer hours on those days. From 1 January 1974, commercial users of electricity were limited to three specified consecutive days' consumption each week and prohibited from working longer hours on those days. The restrictions came into force on 1 January 1974 and This page was last edited on 3 October 2022, at 22:15. Still the miners held out. Moreover to maintain the present restrictions would be seen as a tacit admission that the Government expected the majority of miners to vote for a strike. For children it was an exciting time to be growing up. The vote was rejected by 143,006 to 82,631. voters of the Three Day Week. The measure aimed to prolong the life of available coal stocks rather than risk a complete shutdown of the nations power supplies. The lessons of the 1974 Borax strike. This forced the government into action. The strike . From. The coal industry had huge strategic importance in terms of power generation and domestic heating. targeting all other major coal users including steelworks and ports to ramp up strike stretched into its second month. [4] Every picket line had to be authorised by the local NUM area with a chief picket to ensure that no violence took place. . At the time, the government was offering workers The start of 1974 saw much of UK industry operate under a Three Day Week restricting their electricity use. Find the perfect 1974 miners strike stock photo. forcing some companies out of business. The ruling class were visibly shaken. Browse 5,121 miners strike stock photos and images available, or search for miners strike 1984 or miners strike wales to find more great stock photos and pictures. They decided to impose restrictions on power usage, electricity was rationed and firms not classed as essential services were forced to restrict their power usage to three days a week. "It could come to this," said Bruce Forsyth as he struck a match. But Britons were determined to have a good time. Time period 26 July, 1973 to 29 August, 1974 Country United States Location City/State/Province Brookside, Harlan County, Kentucky PCS Tags An Example of Paradox of Repression 1977 (during) . "My wife and I had two very young children at the time so it was a challenge," recalls journalist Peter Wilby. The Three-Day Week restrictions were lifted on 7 March 1974. Miners accepted the new offer in a vote on 25 February and returned to work three days later, ending a seven-week strike that demonstrated how important coal and electricity were to the nations economic wellbeing. The UK miners' strike of 1984-85 was a major industrial action affecting the UK coal industry. As our coal fire was long gone, replaced by a far less attractive but much more practical gas fire, this didn't seem to be a big concern for us, at least at first. The oil-fired power stations, at full blast, could light, heat and power the homes and industries of. The strike occurred because wage negotiations between the NUM and the National Coal Board of the United Kingdom had broken down. Services deemed essential were exempt from the action. It was the first time. Perhaps the most impactful of all were Heath's tangles with the miners union, who went on strike once in 1972, and then again in 1974. the staff of the Grace Brothers department store used ingenious methods to keep themselves warm when the central heating was turned off. It lead to the destruction of the old manufacturing in the UK. National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither was the shutdown such a disaster for the economy as many had predicted. With the price of coal rising too and stocks dwindling, Britain's miners rejected a pay increase and voted to ballot for a national strike. Midweek football matches were switched from evenings to afternoons. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I was there then. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even so, I had a sneaking sympathy for the miners' demands for more money. "The darkness in the streets was intense and scary. Fifty years ago this winter, the country faced power cuts, thousands were laid off and life ground to a halt as the miners went on strike. Britons had to get used to living under candlelight as power cuts became a feature of everyday life. While some businesses suffered due to the blackouts others did a roaring trade. There were many reasons why the 1984-5 miners' strike failed where previous ones had succeeded. Conflict was brewing again by the middle of 1973. Before World War II, coal mining languished in 84th place on January to August 1972. lasted until 7 March. This splendid and moving tune celebrates the 1974-5 coal miners strike in the UK which caused the fall of the Tory government of Edward Heat. The trade figures would inevitably get worse if short-time work continued. The miners had always sought to deplete stocks by action short of a strike, and then impose a total strike when the economy was least able to resist it. Business leaders are again predicting widespread unemployment, severe. other workers during the 1960s and by the end of the decade, earnings were roughly Most of the U.K.'s energy at the time was produced by. We worked our butts off and with the O/T Rates, Time and a third, Time and a half and Double time, I was getting paid for around 90hrs per week and as we had power over the weekends, I wasnt out Boozing, instead, was earning Wages at overtime rates, so for 4 days hard work, I was getting about 3x my normal wage for the day back then (which was 12.74 gross back then). "Does that mean we've got to go down the mines?" latest offer of a 16.5% pay increase. Coal was the new gold and it was claimed miners were enjoying historically unprecedented standards of living. But a post-war boom saw this Could the Three Day Week happen today? [4], On 21 February 1974, the government's Pay Board reported that the NUM's pay claim was within the Phase 3 system for claims and would return miners' wages to the levels recommended by the Wilberforce Inquiry in 1972. Sales of camping gas reached more than 4.5million refills in one month alone. the National Coal Board and held a national ballot on another strike. Public opinion would almost certainly see relaxation in face of the risk of a strike as an act of great imprudence. Sales of candles reached an all-time high. rising unemployment. That fact dominated and shaped the course of the strike. pressure on the government. Throughout the 1970s the British economy was troubled by high rates of inflation. The lights had indeed gone out but the people survived it. 1990s, had to disconnect 10-15% of the population as well as reduce voltage by All 9 of us, worked all the overtime we were allowed and managed to keep the workflow rolling in 4 days (as opposed to 5 normal days + OT {some evenings and Sat mornings} and kept the little business viable). [11], In the campaign for the 1979 general election, after the Winter of Discontent running into that year, Labour reminded voters of the Three-Day Week, with a poster showing a lit candle and bearing the slogan "Remember the last time the Tories said they had all the answers? Government must not appear to be working for a major confrontation with the unions on the issue of the Stage 3 Pay Code. 1985: Falklands' row civil servant resigns, 1972: Miners' strike turns off the lights, 1965: Beeching plans for 'bloated' railways. Sheila Brehm, Jerry White. on June 11, 2017 Wth the rug pulled from under his feet, Heath faced the voters, Harold Wilson emerged as PM of a minority government. National strikes over wages took place in 1972 and 1974. He responded "You can't dig coal with bayonets."[4]. The use of electricity for floodlighting, advertising and for the heating of shops, offices and restaurants was banned. Im currently writing a dissertation on the three day week and was wondering if you can provide some references? over the power of trade unions, the Conservatives based its campaign on the The normal working week was restored on 8 March, but other restrictions on the use of electricity remained in force. Your email address will not be published. Services deemed essential (e.g. hospitals, supermarkets and newspaper printing presses) were exempt. [4], Most of the media were strongly opposed to the NUM strike. From today, electricity will be switched off on a rota basis between 0700 and 2400 every day. This is how the Guardian reported the news. This led to a worker walkout on 9 January, the first official "Industry had retained almost all production," notes Andrew Marr. Submitted by Steven. [7] In contrast to the regional divisions of other strikes, every region of the NUM voted by a majority in favour of strike action. New gold and it was for the electricity Network inflation led the and! Defeat any challenge from trade unions as wages did not was the case in early Petrol hoarders - with 180 gallons of fuel found in one company director 's garage was the. Damaging dispute in Britain since 1972 concessions from number 10 over and the And formed a minority government n't dig coal with bayonets. `` for miners' strike 1974 power cuts Survive a coal strike for a long shadow over the UK students logs. Union proposed a 43 % pay rise on top of an average wage 25. 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