Public Workers Strike-1979

Considering the current coalition government's assault on the public sector (some of which it must be conceded is justified), I could not help but think about previous adminstrations attempts to reign in the public sector.
Invariably there were strikes. This was particularly true of 1979 when as the clip shows many public sector workers out on strike. It is not overstating the case to say that the disputes of 1979 were a major factor in the public voting in a Conservative government. The public sector necessarily impacts on the public which made any action undertaken by that sector much more apparent. This video also needs to viewed in the context of what at the time was an inordinantly hostile media to the Labour government whereby the smallest of issues was elevated to a point of national catastrophe.
This clip focuses on Barking and Dagenham but is symptomatic of much of what was occurring across the country at that time.

[@buckspa]

Interestingly, Barking and Dagenham had the largest swings to the Conservatives in the general election that May, although Labour still held those seats comfortably.

[@pgpsdoug3986]

Thank you very much for this video

[@ukipwarrior]

23 per cent gdp growth, music and fashion industries the best in the world, highest employment in history, home ownership rising standards of living, nice shiny things in shops, fewer strikes, rising gdp per capita etc etc

[@llll309]

If we had enormous inflation and very low wages now in this century it would be happening, if it wasn't for the tax credit system and housing benefit system .it would be happening because no one would manage on the minimum wage

[@ukipwarrior]

yeah no water in homes and 20 per cent inflation

[@Intravenusdimilo]

Whilst the government is far better at dealing with strike action now, unions still have a strange view on reality