3.2) The 1970s
The 1970s was a period of rapid advance in both recruitment and the establishment of stronger negotiating and bargaining relationships with a number of major employers.
Fighting the Tories
Industrial Relations Act
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Usdaw's membership soared from 316,000 to 470,000 by the end of the decade. National campaigns at Woolworths, Boots, major tailoring firms, mail order and supermarkets saw membership reach an all-time high.
Another source of building membership was to come through amalgamation - such a merger took place in 1977 with the Scottish Bakers' Union - SUBAW.
One of the biggest disputes in the Union's history occurred in 1970 when 8,000 CIS Agents went on strike over a claim for a general expense allowance. TUC General Secretary Vic Feather was eventually called in to break the eight-week deadlock. The case was settled by arbitration.
In 1972 the Union faced a major crisis when it was suspended briefly from the TUC. The Tories' Industrial Relations Act had become law and, although Usdaw had fought vigorously against its implementation the Union's conference failed to support the Executive Council's proposition to deregister.
The decision was contrary to TUC policy and Usdaw was suspended. But a Special Usdaw Delegate Meeting gave the Executive the authority to comply with the TUC's policy of non-registration. Usdaw was once again a member of the TUC.
The '70s was a decade of incomes policy with successive Conservative and Labour Governments attempting to control collective bargaining, ultimately to their cost. It was also a period of growing unemployment and spiralling inflation. Edward Heath's state of emergency, the miners' strike the three-day week and power cuts led the country to rejects the Conservative Government at the 1974 General Election.
With Labour back in power the hated Industrial Relations Act was repealed and replaced by the Employment Protection Act which heralded a massive extension of individual workers' rights.
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