There is no need now to apportion blame for that situation. No doubt there were faults on all sides, and it was in a different political climate. Things changed because Frank Chapple and other courageous ETU colleagues wrested control of their union through a combination of wise court judgements and free elections. The new trade union leaders and the employers were determined to make a fresh start with a robust structure that would substitute social partnership for industrial strife.
Thirty-two years later, that approach still makes the utmost sense. Of course, the political climate has changed out of all recognition since Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle tried to reform industrial relations with the 1969 White Paper In place of strife. That initiative failed, as did Ted Heath's Industrial Relations Act 1971 and the subsequent repeal of it by Harold Wilson and Michael Foot in 1974.
It was not until the dreadful winter of 1978/9, and the apparent powerlessness of James Callaghan's government in the face of widespread industrial action, that the electorate turned to Margaret Thatcher's plans for reform.
It is a mark of how the middle ground has shifted that Tony Blair's New Labour government has left the resulting industrial relations laws virtually unchanged. There will be no return to unofficial strikes and militant picketing. Such concepts belong to a bygone era.
But the JIB got there first. The social partnership between the ECA and the AEEU is still very strong, and much of this is due to the modern approach of the trade union leadership. In Sir Ken Jackson, the AEEU general secretary, the union members have a strong and far-seeing leader who appreciates that a modern electrical contracting industry must be efficient, productive and state of the art. Profit is not a dirty word, and the industry is not isolated from world competition.
Sir Ken, who is backed by strong colleagues such as Paul Corby and Danny Carrigan, sees that a best practice industry will produce proper rewards for the members. Properly trained electricians have a high skill to offer, which should be appropriately recognised in wages and working conditions.
Profit is not a dirty word, and the industry is not isolated from world competition
These will be determined through free collective bargaining between two responsible organisations, both of which know that they have a constituency to satisfy and that neither can get all that they want. The negotiators respect each other and work closely in a non-adversarial manner.
There is nothing cosy about this process. The AEEU is one of the largest unions in the UK and is likely to become even bigger this year if the frequently discussed merger with the MSF goes ahead.
The union serves its members well. Like the ECA, it sometimes finds that it cannot sell to members a new proposal which seems a reasonable part of a wider package. Both partners have experienced frustrations in that regard. As is the case with any progressive organisation, the wise course is to hold back until the time is right. That is what the post-war Tory statesman R A Butler once called "the patience of politics".
Current politics are helpful to Sir Ken's brand of strong and modern trade union leadership. He is very close to the Prime Minister, and has been a spokesman for firm links with Europe, including Britain entering the Euro currency.
A general election could be announced soon, since 3 May 2001 was written into Labour's strategic plan almost the day after the party's 1997 election victory. The overwhelming probability must be that Tony Blair will return to Downing Street. Very few Tories seriously expect to win and even fewer non-political people see a change of government as either necessary or desirable.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
