Britain's Trade Union Reform During Thatcher's Government

In the UK, the strength of the trade union has a decisive role in British.After Margaret Thatcher came into power, in order to successfully implement social change, firstly the Thatcher government needs to deal well with he trade unions. Therefore, the reforms over the trade unions also become an important part.Since the establishment of British trade unions in 1906 until the late 20th century, trade unions in the United Kingdom have taken place in volatile changes throughout the country, especially after World War II, union members increasing, formed a very strong social force. Before step on the stage in 1979 on the stage, union membership has accounted for 57% of all the country's labor force, trade unions from the organizational structure to further the bargaining mechanism improving, more closely with the Government,in fact,it has become a quasi-government nature of the body, It is to influence and even direct participation in government economic policy-making. Before the reforms in British trade unions, British trade unions have been given too much legal protection and legal privileges, play a crucial role in the British political and economic lifeFrom the twentieth century, the sixties, Trade unions has play an important role in political and economic life, on the one hand, labor unions reorganized the country's political forces, becoming the "three partnership", play an important one. In a sense, no matter which political party came into power, must be consulted on relevant policy with the trade unions. In a sense, successive Government's policy, even the ability of the ruling party victory in the general election are required to rely on the support and cooperation. With the stagflation crisis intensifies, the British labor relations is deteriorating, the Conservatives came into power in 1979, the tense labor relations become obstacles to the implementation of Thatcher revolution.Margaret Thatcher facing a grim situation at home and abroad when she came into power, she need to have a systemic reform,and the trade unions resist the government reform, so the government need to repress this resistance first of all.This content is divided into three chapters:Chapter I mainly talk about trade union's traditional rights and powers before Thatcher government step on the stage, including collective bargaining and participation in the power of enterprise management, these two has evolved in the historical process of society.With the economic development of the United Kingdom, the British trade union members and their governing bodies began to fight for the right to power, independent organization is an important prerequisite conditions, after the World War II, the British Government's policy which play a key role in fighting for power, which the policy of nationalization and the implementation of corporatism. The growing power belong to trade unions played a considerable extent on the development of the British domestic politics from the beginning of the 20th century,60 years.The second chapter describe practical reason and theoretical basis, through the discussion, necessity about Thatcher's reform The real reason is abroad and domestic element, the symptoms of "British disease" become increasingly obvious, people's living standards is declining. The crude oil prices and weakened the competitiveness of British goods, external debt burden, the dual factors at home and abroad make the economy of British difficult, thereby affecting political stability.Chapterâ…¢focuses on specific political reforms and its implications for trade unions and the influences on British politics, the first step form a unified party, thereby enabling a unified voice within the Government. The second step is to limit trade union's power, so that trade union reform rely on a series of passage of the bill to be implemented. On specific policies is to abolish the post-war administrations consensus politics, in the specific means are to resolutely resist the unions strike, giving union severe blow. Through this series of measures, culminating in the marginalization of the trade union movement and power of the effective trend.