Back to the 80s: Right to Strike?

Strikes and stoppages, mostly short and often unofficial, used to be a normal feature of British industrial relations. The 1980s witnessed a shift in the balance of power. Despite the era-defining conflicts such as those in the coal and print industries, government constraints on trade union activity alongside changes in labour and labour relations led to a sharp decline in industrial action. Did these changes inaugurate a less adversarial approach to conflict resolution or did they throttle unions and restrict workers rights? Looking back to the past and considering the present, what have strikes achieved? Are they essential solidarity or collective militancy? With our panel consider the changing climate of industrial relations in Britain. Speakers include John Hendy QC, Sarah Veale CBE (TUC) and John Longworth (British Chambers of Commerce). Further speakers to be announced.