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THE REFORM OF WORKING LIFE IN BRITAIN, 1963–1971

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 May 2007

RICHARD WHITING
RICHARD WHITING
Affiliation:
University of Leeds
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Abstract

In the 1960s and 1970s both Conservative and Labour governments passed novel laws dealing with the rights of individuals at work. Overshadowed by conflicts over collective labour law, the political significance of this legislation has remained unexplored. This article suggests that the legislation struck a balance between recognizing the complexity of work in a modern society, and preserving managerial authority. It also argues that the reforms served a Conservative agenda in rooting an individual interest in work in a legal process. This was part of a pivotal challenge to the system of voluntary collective bargaining that had traditionally benefited the labour movement.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , June 2007 , pp. 423 - 448
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

I gratefully acknowledge financial support from the British Academy and the University of Leeds towards the research on which this article is based. Earlier versions were presented at meetings in Berlin and Cambridge, at which valuable comments were received. I have also benefited from the perceptive criticisms of two anonymous referees. I am alone responsible for errors of fact and analysis that remain.