Steelworkers in Struggle

An Oral History of the 1980 National Steel Strike

Charlie McGuire

$190

Hardback

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English

Manchester University Press
20 May 2025

Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000; Oral history; Labour economics; Iron, steel & metals industries; Trade unions

Using oral histories gathered from trade unionists, this book explores the national steelworkers strike of 1980 and asserts its significance as a key turning point in modern British history.

The strike was nominally a response to a 2% pay offer made by British Steel Corporation (BSC), at a time when inflation was 17%, but was generated by the widespread works closures that characterised the British steel industry at this time. The outcome of the strike was a much higher pay increase but no change to the deindustrialisation strategy of BSC and the government. The book explores the strike from the perspective of those who fought it and reveals the short and longer-term consequences it had on the industry, the unions and the workers themselves.

By: Charlie McGuire
Imprint: Manchester University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 507g
ISBN: 9781526123206
ISBN 10: 1526123207
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 20 May 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Further / Higher Education , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1 A ‘dirty, dangerous and hazardous’ industry 2 ‘You only get knighthoods for being obedient’ 3 ‘Its got to be a people’s war’ 4 ‘You can’t have half a union out and half a union working’ 5 ‘The dead hand of the state’ 6 ‘The solidarity was amazing’ 7 ‘We won the battle, we lost the war’ Conclusion -- .

Charlie McGuire is a Senior Lecturer in History at Teesside University.