Professor Hugh Clegg (1920-95) was a key academic and public policy figure in post-war British Industrial Relations (IR), at a time when trade unions were strong and central to political debate. He grappled with problems like unofficial strikes, restrictive practices and inflation, proposing voluntary solutions such as Incomes Policy and Productivity Bargaining. His contribution defined the 1968 ‘Donovan’ Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers’ Association and he supported Labour’s 1970s Social Contract. However, this failed in the 1978/79 Winter of Discontent, which led to Thatcherism and anti-union policies.
The focus of this seminar will be on the lessons of Clegg’s legacy for Trade Unions today. Obviously, work and trade unions have changed greatly, from the largely male, manufacturing world Clegg addressed in the 1960s and 1970s. But trade unions remain a force in society, so what can they learn from the past?
Programme
17:00 – 17:10 | Welcome: Jean Jenkins, President BUIRA & Sarah Veale, Chair H&P TUEF
17:15 – 17:40 | Peter Ackers introduces Clegg and his approach to trade union issues.
17:40 – 18:00 | John Edmonds, former Gen Sec GMB, responds.
18:00 – 18:20 | Blandine Emilien, Lecturer at Bristol Business School, trade union researcher & leader of the BUIRA film heritage project, also responds.
18:20 – 18:45 | General Discussion.
This seminar is jointly organized by the
British Universities Industrial Relations Association
(BUIRA) and the
History & Policy, Trade Union and Employment Forum
(H&P TUEF).
