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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| London Tube strike: What has industrial action actually ever achieved? | London Tube strike: What has industrial action actually ever achieved? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four unions are striking again this week over measures to bring in a 24-hour London Underground. | Four unions are striking again this week over measures to bring in a 24-hour London Underground. |
| The industrial action is expected to bring widespread misery to London commuters, and is the second strike in two months to shut down the entire London Underground. | The industrial action is expected to bring widespread misery to London commuters, and is the second strike in two months to shut down the entire London Underground. |
| Talks between London Underground (LU) staff and Unite, RMT, TSSA and Aslef members broke down after last minute discussions on Monday. | Talks between London Underground (LU) staff and Unite, RMT, TSSA and Aslef members broke down after last minute discussions on Monday. |
| The industrial action comes as the Conservative government move to introduce a Bill that would severely curtail unions’ ability to strike. But what has strike action ever achieved? | The industrial action comes as the Conservative government move to introduce a Bill that would severely curtail unions’ ability to strike. But what has strike action ever achieved? |
| The eight-hour work day | |
| In the 1880s gas workers and dockers won an eight-hour working day after a series of strikes – campaigning to change the normal from 16-hour days to the manageable eight-hour. Their action – eventually supported by the trade unions – aims were solidified in parliamentary legislation. | In the 1880s gas workers and dockers won an eight-hour working day after a series of strikes – campaigning to change the normal from 16-hour days to the manageable eight-hour. Their action – eventually supported by the trade unions – aims were solidified in parliamentary legislation. |
| Equal pay for women | |
| As popularised by the film The Dagenham Girls (although with a few instances of artistic licence) the 1968 Ford sewing machinist strike caused the Labour government to intervene and pass the 1970 Equal Pay Act. | As popularised by the film The Dagenham Girls (although with a few instances of artistic licence) the 1968 Ford sewing machinist strike caused the Labour government to intervene and pass the 1970 Equal Pay Act. |
| Brought down a government | |
| Ted Heath’s Conservative government was brought down by the miners a decade before Mrs Thatcher was shown the door. The then PM lost called an election to cement his position – believing that despite declaring a state of emergency and a three-day week the country supported him. They didn’t, and he lost his government. | Ted Heath’s Conservative government was brought down by the miners a decade before Mrs Thatcher was shown the door. The then PM lost called an election to cement his position – believing that despite declaring a state of emergency and a three-day week the country supported him. They didn’t, and he lost his government. |