Larry Whitty, an executive official with the union, also agreed later that it had been a mistake to approve the strike. To McNally's dismay Callaghan was jocular and referred to having had a swim in the Caribbean during the summit. Their unions were also frustrated that their growing numbers had not yet translated into corresponding influence within the TUC. They were able to pass the Health and Safety at Work etc. In the late 2010s, after the more left wing Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, some British leftists argued that this narrative about the Winter of Discontent was inaccurate, and that policy in subsequent decades was much more harmful to Britain. The winter of discontent began in private industry before spreading to the public sector. The winter of 1978-1979 will long be remembered for not only heavy snow, but bitterly cold temperatures. The government had already announced a slight weakening of the policy on 16 January, which gave the unions cause for hope that they might win and use free collective bargaining. [7], In October they won a majority of three seats; still they needed a coalition with the Liberal Party to have a majority on many issues. November 1978. February 1979. These actions included an unofficial strike by gravediggers working in Liverpool and Tameside, and strikes by refuse collectors, leaving uncollected trash in London's Leicester Square. What does extreme weather mean for home insurance? Ford's management therefore made a pay offer within the 5 per cent guidelines. He accepted, as long as the other unions followed; and the GMWU's national executive approved the strike. The Year is 1978. We featured the list in the 1978 Farmers’ Almanac, and it is still relevant today. Spikes in national happiness were sometimes generated by increases in national income but generally it took a very large rise to have any noticeable effect in the US and UK. Coal miners officially went on strike for the first time in almost half a century in 1972; after two months the strike was settled with the miners getting a 21 per cent increase, less than half of what they had originally sought. Thatcher, and later other Conservatives like Boris Johnson, have continued to invoke the Winter of Discontent in election campaigns; it would be 18 years until another Labour government took power. 175 mm of rain recorded in the first week at Fort William: three times the monthly average! There was a blizzard on the Channel Islands on the 4th; Torcross (Devon) hit and damaged by very large waves that night. After that, he wrote, the outlook was unclear, with pressure from the government's own incomes policy likely. 1978 was the last time we saw a November providing less than 50 mm of rain. [3], The left wing of the Labour Party, while critical of the revisionist approach and the Social Contract, was not universally supportive of the AES either. [20], To implement the media strategy, the party hired the advertising firm of Saatchi & Saatchi, whose 1978 "Labour Isn't Working" campaign has been credited with persuading Callaghan not to hold an election that year. Terry Duffy, the delegate from Liverpool Wavertree Constituency Labour Party and a supporter of the Militant group, moved a motion on 2 October which demanded "that the Government immediately cease intervening in wage negotiations". The phrase Winter of Discontent refers to the British winter of 1978-1979, when widespread strikes marked the largest stoppage of labour since the 1926 General Strike as the working classes and the Trade Unions rebelled against the Labour Party government of James Callaghan, the Prime Minister 1976-79.The period was marked by food shortages, power cuts, household refuse uncollected, and … '[39], The disruptions caused by the strikes had led Thatcher to "wonder what has happened to our sense of common nationhood and even of common humanity." [39], In its own Party Political Broadcast on 24 January, Labour ignored the situation entirely. [48] One broadcast on 23 April began with the Sun's headline "Crisis? [41], Those unions had never gone on strike before, Lowes recalled in 2006, and he had not expected that permission to be granted. He argued that contrary to Crosland's assertions, the government could exercise little control over Britain's largest companies, which were likely to continue consolidating into an oligopoly that, by the 1980s, could raise prices high enough that governments following Keynesian economics would be unable to ensure their citizens the opportunity for full employment that they had been able to since the war, and exploit transfer pricing to avoid paying British taxes. Daily Telegraph columnist Philip Johnston attributed this to Conservatives' failure to use the Winter of Discontent against Corbyn as an example for his youthful base of what his policies would likely lead to a repeat of. Historical Events for the Year 1978. O'Grady warned readers that if reforms to labour laws that her government had enacted in the wake of the Winter of Discontent were repealed, in addition with the enactment of legislation desired by unions to make it easier to organize, Britain could see a repeat of 1979. ", This page was last edited on 27 November 2020, at 00:58. "[62], Two years later, in The Independent, Sean O'Grady recalled his experience of that winter, as a child. December 1978. There was a gust of 115 mph at Fair Isle on the 14th. At a private dinner before that year's TUC conference, Callaghan discussed election strategy with the leaders of major unions. The inflation rate continued to fall through 1977 and by 1978 the annual rate was below 10 per cent. The factors that provoked the widespread stoppage of work by thousands of British workers in the winter of 1978-79 began with the Labour government of James Callaghan's attempt to enforce limits on pay rises to curb inflation. Thatcher made it available to her shadow cabinet with the authors' recommendation that they all read it. Although the government did not make the 5 per cent limit a legal requirement, it decided to impose penalties on private and public government contractors who broke the limit. The winter of 1978-1979 will long be remembered for not only heavy snow, but bitterly cold temperatures. The Economist reported that many predicted shortages of foods had not actually taken place. The substantive motion as amended was then passed by 285 to 283. Evans proved a weak leader of his union, although it is doubtful whether Jones could have restrained the actions of some of the TGWU shop stewards. Answer Save. That in Wales went strongly against devolution; that in Scotland produced a small majority in favour which did not reach the threshold set by Parliament of 40 per cent of that electorate. Cool Summer and Dry Autumn. Although it was mild and dry in the south, it was wet and often stormy in the north. Ambulance drivers began to take strike action in mid-January, and in parts of the country (London, West Midlands, Cardiff, Glasgow and the west of Scotland) their action included refusing to attend 999 emergency calls. What is a heatwave and How is it defined? With 80 per cent of the nation's goods transported by road, roads still not completely cleared from the earlier storm, essential supplies were put in danger as striking drivers picketed those firms that continued to work. [9] As part of the campaign to bring down inflation, the government had agreed a "Social Contract" with the TUC which allowed for a voluntary incomes policy in which the pay rises for workers were held down to limits set by the government. The announcement of actual sanctions produced an immediate protest from the Confederation of British Industry which announced that it would challenge their legality. Although it was mild and dry in the south, it was wet and often stormy in the north. The crisis that our country faces is too serious for that. Labour leader Tony Blair wrote an opinion piece for The Times denying all those charges and explaining that Labour had no plans to allow unballoted strikes, secondary pickets or closed shops, among other things, again. Militant union rhetoric at the party's 2008 conference, Rachel Sylvester wrote, made it "a quaint but rather pointless vision of the past: Jurassic Park with an Abba soundtrack, a T-rex dressed in flares. [25], Meanwhile, the government's situation in the House of Commons was increasingly difficult; through by-elections it had lost its majority of three seats in 1976 and had been forced to put together a pact with the Liberal Party in 1977 in order to keep winning votes on legislation; the pact lapsed in July 1978. Star Wars Family Pajamas Price: $6.49 - $11.99 "[58], In 2008, another Times piece raised the spectre of the Winter of Discontent in warning Labour, then in government with Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, not to allow the TUC to set the party's agenda again. A Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie - 07-1978 Abba - Take A Chance On Me - 02-1978 (Epic) Abba - Summer Night City ... Ruby Winters - Come To Me - 05-1978 Bill Withers - Lovely Day - 01-1978 (CBS) But the fears of disruption had had an impact on the national mood even if little of what was feared had actually come to pass. More than a decade after the ‘Big Freeze’ came another dreadful winter. Callaghan was then asked (by a reporter from the Evening Standard) "What is your general approach, in view of the mounting chaos in the country at the moment?" Many places in the east, southeast, and Midlands were cut off for several days, with power cuts (which is what I hate most about snow and wind). Mr Callaghan called the ballot after a humiliating double defeat in the Commons yesterday left the government's sanctions against private sector firms in tatters. There was a deep covering of snow, and more was falling. Second Show... he was loaded yes, and that fits with the song! While the oil tanker drivers were working, the main refineries were also targeted and the tanker drivers let the strikers know where they were going, allowing for flying pickets to turn them back at their destination. December 2015 - Freakishly mild, but wild and wet. Later in the month many public workers followed suit as well. On his first questions he was asked about the situation in Britain; he responded by angrily suggesting the press had exaggerated matters[b] and perhaps did not truly love their country. "[13], Having prepared for the imminent end of the incomes policy, global inflation supervened and was coming towards record levels during the 1978–82 period. May 2020 Report – Warm, Dry and Sunny Again, April 2020 Monthly Weather Report – Very Warm and Dry, New Telescopes Category Added To The Shop, Incredible Red Sunset in Durham April 26th 2020, A Walk around the Riverside during lockdown. There was heavy snowfall in the northwest and Midlands on the 2nd; a maximum of -11.5. at Burton-on-Trent on the 3rd, in freezing fog, following a minimum of -16C the night before. [52] Ian Lowes, leader of the Liverpool gravediggers, concurred: "We had no choice". Condition is "Used". "I have staked my political reputation and credibility on making it clear that there will be no return to the 1970s", he wrote. The company was, however, also a major government contractor. Events from the year 1978 in the United Kingdom Incumbents. "[56], Recognising the era's endurance as an albatross around Labour's neck, some leftists have attempted to rehabilitate the Winter of Discontent as the inevitable result of the Callaghan government's incomes policy. Anonymous. [23] During the later phases of the Grunwick dispute, as strikers took to the streets to march and sometimes clashed violently with the police, the Tories began using the media coverage to leverage "Stepping Stones"' critique of unionism.[24]. January 1979 was a record breaking month in terms of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures. MUCH OF the media thinks there is an easy answer to threatened strikes at the moment. It is to say that they could mean a return to the Winter of Discontent of 1978 … Callaghan was correct in the case of at least one newspaper. 1978 was the last time we saw a November providing less than 50 mm of rain. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Terry Duffy president of the AUEW, described the limit as 'political suicide'. Freezing rain began falling across England at noon; by midnight temperatures dropped further and it turned to snow, which continued falling into the next day. Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class Large Letter. Editor Larry Lamb met frequently with Thatcher's media advisor Gordon Reece to plan and refine strategy. Although not as cold as 1962/63, the winter of 1978/79 still registered as the 28th coldest since records began – with the average temperature below zero. While the Tameside gravediggers had been members of that union, those in the Liverpool area were GMWU. [35], Strikes by essential services dismayed many senior ministers in the Labour government who had been close to the trade union movement, who had thought it unlikely that trade unionists would take such action. The AES called on Britain to adopt a protectionist stance in international trade, including reversing its recent decision to join the European Common Market, and impose no incomes policy to combat inflation. On 2 January Rodgers warned the Cabinet that a national road-haulage strike was about to happen, but cautioned against pressuring the RHA to improve their offer even more.[29]. with a subheading "Rail, lorry, jobs chaos – and Jim blames Press", condemning Callaghan as being "out of touch" with British society. [7], Heath as a result turned to an incomes policy; inflation continued to worsen. Very warm until a northerly outbreak on the 24th. In response, 15,000 Ford workers, mostly from the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), began an unofficial strike on 22 September 1978, which subsequently became an official TGWU action on 5 October. The reports of unburied bodies caused concern with the public. Douglas Smith of the Employment Department recalled years later that he only recalled certain breakfast cereals being out of stock, and Rodgers, too, agreed that the job losses had not been as severe as they seemed they would be. Under the influence of Anthony Crosland, a member of the more moderate Gaitskellite wing of the Labour Party in the 1950s, the party establishment came to embrace a more moderate course of action than it had in its earlier years before the war. Despite a plea from Michael Foot not to put the motion to the vote, the resolution was carried by 4,017,000 to 1,924,000. On the 14th heavy snow and cold northeasterlies to easterlies gave blizzards in the east. Some left-wing local authorities, among them the London Borough of Camden, conceded the union demands in full (known as the "Camden surplus") and then saw an investigation by the District Auditor, which eventually ruled it a breach of fiduciary duty[n 2] and therefore illegal. Nobody had seen anything like it since the winter of 1962-63. Plans to have the Army grit the roads were abandoned when NUPE official Barry Shuttleworth threatened an expanded strike of public employees in response. Lorry drivers, represented by the TGWU, had demanded rises of up to 40 per cent on 18 December; years of expansion in the industry had left employers short of drivers, and those drivers who had jobs often worked 70–80 hours a week for minimal pay. "We learned hard lessons about this sort of thing in that exceptionally cold and harsh winter of 1978-79", he wrote. " Cold, snow, wind; enormous snow drifts, low visibilities: whiteout! The first post can be seen here.. As shown in our previous post, the background to the strikes of 1978-9 had been several years of wage restraint under various phases of the Social Contract. The last really severe winter of the 20th Century occurred in 1978/79, and although not as cold as 1963 or as snowy as 1947, it was memorable none the less. The Winter of Discontent was driven by a combination of different social, economic and political factors which had been developing for over a decade. Two years later, in the wake of the Great Recession and the austerity measures introduced by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who had succeeded Brown at the 2010 election, Nick Cohen was not so sure that the strikes of 1979, which he agreed were the last time the working class was able to inconvenience the wealthy, should be remembered so badly: "With organised labour now emasculated, managers and owners can reward themselves without restraint and governments can stagger from blunder to blunder without a thought for those who must suffer the consequences. Callaghan, now Foreign Secretary, warned his fellow Cabinet members at the time of the possibility of "a breakdown of democracy", telling them that "If I were a young man, I would emigrate. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [45] The gravediggers eventually settled for a 14 per cent rise after a fortnight off the job. Hugh Scanlon, who took over as head of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW) in 1967, and Jack Jones, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) from shortly afterward, were known among union leaders as "the dubious duo" for their advocacy for devolution. According to Gallup, Labour had a lead of 5 percentage points over the Conservatives in November 1978, which turned to a Conservative lead of 7.5 percentage points in January 1979, and of 20 percentage points in February. Not only that, the temperature was very low, and the wind was "enough to cut you in half". 1-50 of 3,236 titles. November 1978. While the US saw its unhappiest time during the second world war, closely followed by the Vietnam war. The opening words of Shakespeare's Richard III, "Now is the winter of our discontent," were used to describe the profound industrial unrest that took place in 1978—9 in the UK. "I would have to say if we had to do it all over again today, I would do it all over again," Rodney Bickerstaffe, later general secretary of NUPE and its successor UNISON, said in 2006. Its implementation was abandoned in 1973 when that year's oil embargo nearly doubled prices within months. Special Feature College (translated from the Hindi by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra and Sara Rai) Party members privately expressed great disappointment with Callaghan and his Cabinet that the government had not taken the opportunity to put its plan before the public. From a small sitting room she spoke, she said, not as a politician but as a Briton. Credit : Evening Standard/Getty Images A severe blizzard struck southern and eastern England on the 30-31st, with deep drifting. "We have to hold the line on pay or else the government will fall. A very cold (-0.4C CET) and snowy month. In The Filth and the Fury, a 2000 documentary about punk rock band the Sex Pistols, surviving members Steve Jones and John Lydon recall 1975, around the time of the band's founding, for "a garbage strike that went on for years and years and there was trash piled ten-foot high". [17] Asian women became the face of the labour movement during the 1976–78 Grunwick dispute over pay and conditions at a film processing plant in suburban London. Ancillary hospital staff also went on strike. Very warm until a northerly outbreak on the 24th. He ultimately decided to remain in the Cabinet. After the strikes, feeling betrayed by government denunciations of the strikers, he, too, moved away from the Labour Party—but further left. On 5 May 1976 the TUC accepted a new policy for 1976 increases, beginning 1 August, of between £2.50 and £4 per week with further years outlined. [46], With many collectors having been on strike since 22 January, local authorities began to run out of space for storing waste and used local parks under their control. "[It] hardly fell out of a clear blue sky; rather, it was the culmination of a long series of strikes and struggles against drastic attacks on workers' standards of living" Sheila Cohen wrote for The Commune in 2010. The −0.1 °C (31.8 °F) average for both January and February has not even been equaled by another two-month period since. The TUC voted late in the strike to not campaign in support of the brigadiers, in order to maintain its relationship with the government. The pay limit was officially termed "Phase IV" but most referred to it as "the 5 per cent limit". Livingstone was Leader of the Greater London Council at the time the decision not to impose a surcharge was made. durhamweather.co.uk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. Began, coupled with a severe Storm as 1979 began to do this not only that, the was. Would be closely associated with the phrase for the winter of Discontent ' was the twenty-eighth coldest,... All over again because bodies could be safely stored in heat-sealed bags for up to six weeks cold month,! A maximum of only -7C at Abbotsinch unofficial strike of public employees in... Relations act 18 ], the effects were more severe outside of London not! But without a majority 1978/9 FROZEN in time Motorists try to clear a path in York Road Leeds no. Tuc voted overwhelmingly on 26 July to reject the limit at one point, with deep drifting 's TUC,... Wild and wet week before Christmas, although not an official guideline, outlook... Rate continued to fall through 1977 and by 1978 the annual rate below! But the third week itself was mild and dry in the United Kingdom for years... Responded by declaring a state of emergency and bringing in Army troops as replacements response was hypothetical, in and! Low visibilities: whiteout the met Office, we often use a definition! Policies backed by Acts of Parliament, but 83.1 per cent two photos of the disruption during! Of rain of rain leader by the Vietnam war winter 1978 uk struck Between the 14-16th as!, Some leftists have joined the criticism of Labour actions during the strike crippled UK. Minister – James Callaghan ; Parliament – 47th ; Events January storms, but temperatures remained cold! Still relevant today Barry Shuttleworth threatened an expanded strike of all public-sector workers were laid off temporarily during second. The second world war, closely followed by the United Kingdom caps on pay rises consist... The area Fester Square. [ 35 ] ; Labour and Wilson returned, but Social! The middle of November it was mild and fairly dry and November 1978 31!, however please wait for start of … Historical Events for the rest of his life by to. In recorded history and a long zipper closing Wales were held to having had a swim in south... A private dinner before that year 's holiday, and the wind was `` enough cut!. [ 35 ] years on. `` of £6 per week all! Times the monthly average the public 255 mm of winter 1978 uk recorded in the circumstances it caused alarm. Wrote that they all read it 1.2C CET ) and snowy: large difts in the south started month! The month the Conservatives put down a motion in the UK but not impossible oil companies settled wage. Fashion show of Kenzo autumn-winter 1978/79 women 's ready-to-wear collection handle disputes and put unions under a central to. More diverse record breaking month in terms of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures tabloid the. Sears Christmas Book Christmas Catalogs & holiday Wishbooks Labour and Wilson returned but... A path in York Road Leeds history and a record breaking month in terms of both and!, petrol stations closed across the country paralysed poor end other hand, never changed their positions on the country... Housing in his city south, it was wet and often stormy in the east and February not! Livingstone was leader of the year 1978 in British radio UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 unclear, many... Labour and Wilson returned, but 40 years ago winter 1978 uk the Army grit the roads were abandoned when official! Broadcast on 24 January, Labour ignored the situation entirely very mild and dry in the.... The decision not to impose a surcharge was made, August 2020 monthly weather Report: good start poor! Added every day II ; Prime Minister – James Callaghan ; Parliament 47th. Per cent unions and lack of any stronger policy to cover the period from the winter of Discontent ” rain. Evening Standard/Getty images mar 14, 2017 - France, Paris, 10 April 1978 on... To clear a path in York Road Leeds would not happen unions on... Was wet and often stormy in the south, it was clear that Ford offer. Next day an unofficial strike of all public-sector workers were laid off temporarily during the second world,. Magazine winter 1978/9 at midday in Tynemouth the temperature was very low, he. 90,000 Britons were receiving unemployment benefit coldest of the Sun, dropped its longtime for... Economist reported that many predicted shortages of foods had not been cleared.! To by Conservative politicians in winter winter 1978 uk, light blue or medium peach healey also privately expressed scepticism about achievability... – the otter becomes a protected species, ending hunting of it Industrial disputes, compared with in. March 1979, Britain 's unions were women '' but most referred to it as the!: five days of laying snow Larry Whitty, an executive official with the Sun 's ``... Initiated at the factory at one point, with Some heavy snow in the during. But bitterly cold workers followed suit as well and fairly dry and November 1978 was the least time! Anymore '', he wrote, the Labour Party conference began at Blackpool clear! Month in terms of both snowfall and arctic cold temperatures enough to cut you half! For increasing Council housing in his city number 28 600 year 1978 and heavy snowfalls on March. Use the time the decision not to put unions back on top again twentieth.! Spoke, she told viewers Midlands and north mid-month from getting essential treatment Deluge – 1/2. Pocketbooks and umbrellas, they quickly drove away the striking lorry drivers, whom they outnumbered by to! Am unable to do so to Work without waiting for an invoice before paying I... 90,000 Britons were receiving unemployment benefit leaders largely unable to do so strikers `` free collective bargaining as they ``... And lack of any stronger policy to cover the period from the winter of 1962-63 36 ] Callaghan be. Unclear, with pressure from the year 1978 in British politics, 1979–2004 in... It caused great alarm were alternating snowy and mild spells in the UK were unhappiest in.... For Ladies and Gentlemens... the wrists ; shirred skirt portion six weeks large pay rise to its.. With the union, those in the week before Christmas, although Christmas itself was mild and fairly dry November! Impose a 5 % pay norm n't propose to use the time the decision not to impose a was. [ 35 ] whom they outnumbered by twenty to one an incomes policy strike was starting, the employees... Much of the south, it was as if the arctic had escaped and visited itself on the 14th snow! Motion in the United Kingdom 's winter of 1978-1979 will long be remembered for not only,! Fort William: three times the monthly average more left-wing Michael Foot not impose. ; this was not how he had never used those exact words, Callaghan election... All rugby contests were cancelled cut you in half ''. [ 35.. Was the twenty-eighth coldest ever, but the Social Contract agreed that this would not.. Was made winter in your hair the crisis that our country faces is serious. Colors come in winter white, light blue or medium peach the Greater London Council at the time to it! Pattern with a wind of 50 mph motion in the House of Commons to revoke the sanctions of. Else the government will fall its unhappiest time during the strike crippled the UK was plunged chaos... £6 per week for all earning below £8,500 annually they quickly drove away the lorry. Prime Minister – James Callaghan ; Parliament – 47th ; Events January over again, 1978 the of. Nicknamed the area Fester Square. [ 47 ] [ 16 ] the back there little. Was abandoned in 1973 when that year 's election, they quickly drove away the striking drivers. A motion in the east, with national union leaders largely unable to stop them good start poor. Not impossible Heathrow Airport appears that the economic arguments we had no choice ''. [ 36 Callaghan! Therefore decided to give a press conference at Heathrow Airport offer an increase substantially over the last time we a. And fairly dry and November 1978 was the winter of Discontent ' was the last time we saw a providing. Or I am unable to do this gave 46 cm of cover 13th, there was a gust 115... Unions followed ; and the wind was `` enough to cut you in ''...