The Second World War and After

Abstract

The Second World War brought major changes in industrial relations. In 1940 Ernest Bevin became Minister of Labour and dealt brilliantly with short and long-term problems (1). Order 1305 substituted compulsory arbitration for strikes and lockouts (2,3), though it was not always effective (4); and unions continued to seek ways of avoiding inter-union disputes (5) and to modify some traditional practices (6). In addition to attempting to avoid industrial disputes, Winston Churchill’s Government sought to hold back inflation (7). The TUC, under Walter Citrine, held meetings on this matter with Ministers from 1939 and, while rejecting statutory control of incomes, agreed that increases should be moderate (8). Such counsels did not appeal to members of the Left, such as Arthur Horner of the MFGB (9).