How has the power of the Trade Unions changed in the last 20 years?

                                        The government managed to weaken the power of trade unions through successive legislation made in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1988. The two most significant acts were the 1980 and 1982 Acts. The 1980 (“Prior”) Employment Act, although produced in conjunction with the trader unions so not as hard hitting as preceding Acts narrowed the definition of Lawful picketing and secondary action.  The 1982 (“Tebbit) Employment Act restricted the definition of a lawful dispute and increased the consequences of illegal disputes. Overall the employment Acts most importantly democratised the Trade unions meaning that the views of some of the more moderate trade union members were taken into account and not just the views of the hard line leaders. Another important point was increased compensation for employees sacked because they were not members of the particular union (closed shop). The trade union legislation was so successful because it was done incrementally, if it had all been done in one big act there would have been mass opposition but, by gradually increasing the sanctions on trade unions the government were successful in reducing their power.

                                         Another way that the government reduced the power of the Trade unions was to end corporate Tripartism; during world war two there had been a link between the government, trade unions and industry to enable the highest possible industrial output. After the end of the war the labour government continued with corporate Tripartism. The Conservative government ended that, meaning that the trade unions were no longer on the inside of the decision making progress. This severely limited the trade union influence.

                                           In conclusion the powers of the trade unions were substantially reduced under Thatcher’s government. To illustrate this point in the winter of 1978\1979, which became known as the winter of discontent Trade union militancy brought the economy to its knee’s, after trade union legislation their ability to affect the economy was weakened to such an extent that by 1985 upon the coal miners union going on strike they could only last for 3 months before the coal miners union ran out of funds and the miners had to return to work.