Power dispute of 1964

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The power dispute of 1964 was an industrial action by electric power workers in the United Kingdom that raised fears of power cuts which were ultimately averted through negotiation with the employers.

Industrial action any measure taken by trade unions or other organised labour meant to reduce productivity in a workplace

Industrial action or job action is a temporary show of dissatisfaction by employees, especially a strike or slowdown or working to rule to protest against bad working conditions or low pay and to increase bargaining power with the employer and intended to force the employer to improve them by reducing productivity in a workplace. Industrial action is usually organized by trade unions or other organised labour, most commonly when employees are forced out of work due to contract termination and without reaching an agreement with the employer. Quite often it is used and interpreted as a euphemism for strike or mass strike, but the scope is much wider. Industrial action may take place in the context of a labour dispute or may be meant to effect political or social change. This form of communication tends to be their only means to voice their concerns about safety and benefits.

Electric power the rate per unit of time at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit

Electric power is the rate, per unit time, at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt, one joule per second.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and sometimes referred to as Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Unions representing 128,000 manual workers demanded:

A trade union, also called a labor union or labour union (US), is an association of workers forming a legal unit or legal personhood, usually called a "bargaining unit," which acts as bargaining agent and legal representative for a unit of employees in all matters of law or right arising from or in the administration of a collective agreement.

Working time is the period of time that a person spends at paid labor. Unpaid labor such as personal housework or caring for children or pets is not considered part of the working week.

Artisan skilled craft worker who makes or creates things by hand

An artisan is a skilled craft worker who makes or creates things by hand that may be functional or strictly decorative, for example furniture, decorative arts, sculptures, clothing, jewellery, food items, household items and tools or even mechanisms such as the handmade clockwork movement of a watchmaker. Artisans practice a craft and may through experience and aptitude reach the expressive levels of an artist.

— threatening an overtime ban and work-to-rule if the demands were not met. Their employers, represented by the Electricity Council, rejected the demands claiming that a three-year pay agreement had been put in place the previous year. [1] [2]

An overtime ban is a form of industrial action where employees limit their working time to the hours specified in their contracts, refusing to work any overtime. Overtime bans are less disruptive than strike action, and since there is no breach of contract by the employees there is less chance of disciplinary action by the employer than there is with strikes. However, an overtime ban can have a significant impact on industries which normally operate outside of regular office hours, such as emergency services, public transport, or retail.

Work-to-rule is an industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and precisely follow all safety or other regulations, which may cause a slowdown or decrease in productivity, as they are no longer working during breaks or during unpaid extended hours and weekends. Such an action is considered less disruptive than a strike or lockout, and obeying the rules is less susceptible to disciplinary action. Notable examples have included nurses refusing to answer telephones, teachers refusing to work for free at night and during weekends and holidays, and police officers refusing to issue citations. Refusal to work overtime, travel on duty, or sign up to other tasks requiring employee assent are other manifestations of using work-to-rule as industrial action.

The Electricity Council was a governmental body set up in 1957 to oversee the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. The Council's responsibilities included:

The unions involved were: [3]

Amalgamated Engineering Union

The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) was a major British trade union. It merged with the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union to form the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in 1992.

The unions were under pressure to settle from the Labour Party, and were called to talks at Westminster with deputy party leader George Brown and shadow Chancellor James Callaghan who feared for the impact a dispute would have on the party's prospects in the United Kingdom general election, 1964. Talks broke down on 19 March and it was feared that supply disruptions would follow the industrial action. [4] Further talks on 25 March failed. [5] There were parliamentary clashes between Labour Party leader Harold Wilson and Minister of Labour Joseph Godber. [6]

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights.

Westminster area of central London, within the City of Westminster

Westminster is an area in central London within the City of Westminster, part of the West End, on the north bank of the River Thames. Westminster's concentration of visitor attractions and historic landmarks, one of the highest in London, includes the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

George Brown, Baron George-Brown British politician

George Alfred Brown, Baron George-Brown, was a British Labour politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1960 to 1970 and also in several Cabinet posts, including Foreign Secretary during the Labour government of the 1960s. He was a leader of the Labour Party's trade union right wing, and an effective election campaigner. Ultimately, however, he was unable to cope with the pressures of high office without excessive drinking. He was always known simply as "George Brown" and, upon being granted a peerage in November 1970, he insisted on combining his first name and surname to create the title Baron George-Brown of Jevington in the County of Sussex.

On 31 March, Godber appointed Lord Justice Pearson to chair a court of inquiry into the dispute. [7] The inquiry reported on 15 May and found fault on both sides. The employers had been guilty of "slowness and lack of vigour" in addressing the workers' concerns, while the workers had acted "too hastily" in breaking the three-year agreement which already included a mechanism for negotiation on "status proposals". However, the inquiry recognised that the workers felt "disappointed, frustrated and exasperated". Some felt that the report contained "more platitudes than recommendations" and it suggested no compromise, exhorting the parties to renewed efforts under the existing agreement. [8]

On 11 June, the employers conceded a pay rise that cost the industry an estimated £5 million annually (£64 million at 2003 prices [9] ) in return for improvements in efficiency, and agreed to negotiate on the remaining issues. [10] Negotiations again broke down on 27 November and unions announces that industrial action would begin and that they would start balloting for a strike. [11]

The dispute was called off on 30 November when the employers offered that excess hours worked would be compensated in cash if time-off in lieu was not taken within three months. The wage claim was arbitrated by the Industrial Court. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "Work-To-Rule Threat By Power Men - Demand For 40-Hour Week". The Times . 11 February 1964. p. 6, col.G.
  2. ↑ "Power Dispute". The Times. 20 February 1964. p. 12, col.G.
  3. ↑ "Guide to Power Dispute - Many Interests Involved In The Struggle". The Times. 23 March 1964. p. 7, col.A.
  4. ↑ "Power Dispute Talks Break Down Overtime Ban On Monday, Union Delegation Walks Out Of Meeting". The Times. 20 March 1964. p. 14, col.A.
  5. ↑ "Power Dispute Talks Break Down "Position Worse" After 4-Hour Meeting, Employers' Proposals Rejected". The Times. 26 March 1964. p. 14, col.A.
  6. ↑ "Minister Accuses Mr. Wilson Of "Wrecking" Charge And Counter-Charge Over Power Crisis". The Times. 28 March 1964. p. 8, col.F.
  7. ↑ "Lord Justice Pearson Inquiry Chairman". The Times. 1 April 1964. p. 10, col.B.
  8. ↑ "Both Sides To Blame In Power Dispute "Bury Past, Build For Future" Report Says". The Times. 16 May 1964. p. 5, col.A.
  9. ↑ O‘Donoghue, J.; et al. (2004). "Consumer Price Inflation since 1750". Economic Trends. 604: 38–46, March.
  10. ↑ "135,000 Power Workers To Get Pay Rise More Efficiency Promised, Cost May Be £5M". The Times. 12 June 1964. p. 12, col.E.
  11. ↑ "Power Dispute Talks Fail Strike Threat Draws Near, Union Ballot To START On Monday". The Times. 28 November 1964. p. 8, col.C.
  12. ↑ "Power Stations Overtime Ban Called Off - Payments Claim Settled". The Times. 1 December 1964. p. 10, col.C.
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