Grunwick Strike

THE GRUNWICK STRIKE1976 effects on black minority workers and women

THE GRUNWICK STRIKE1976 effects on black minority workers and women

University of Hertfordshire

6BUS1017

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS

ED BLISSETT

12/10/2012

University of Hertfordshire

6BUS1017

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS

ED BLISSETT

12/10/2012

NGOZI JULIA JOHN, 09244551

WORD COUNT: 2,151

NGOZI JULIA JOHN, 09244551

WORD COUNT: 2,151

The purpose of this essay is to describe the Grunwick strike in 1976 through a critical

evaluation depicting relevant effects the dispute had on equality legislation, and trade union

policies towards women and black minority workers (BME) in Britain. However, the strike

Which took place at the Grunwick photo processing plant in North London consisted of?

striker’s mainly Asian women and black minority workers who were keen on union

recognition and reinstatement as they felt it will remedy their plight (Dromey, 1978).

However, Pearson (2010) identified that the dispute symbolises the labour solidarity in

Britain which supported women and minority workers, where the fundamental right of a

Worker to belong to a trade union was important and necessary.

First and foremost, Dromey (1978), noted certain issues that led to the dispute which are

Bad management, compulsory overtime, conditions of work (i.e. allocation of worse tasks to

Asian’s in the production process, and different rate for the same job paid to Asian and white

Workers. Brah, 1970), proud workforce, racialism, discrimination, low wages, these issues

led to a weak labour workforce as majority of the strikers consisted of women who were

been affected by the severe supervision at Grunwick, this in return clashed with their

domestic duties at home; like fetching children from school and cooking meals for their

Families (Dromey, 1978).

Substantively, Grunwick was one of the most important industrial disputes during the

labour government (Forbes, 1978), as it was...