October 1984
With the future of British industry and industrial relations under debate,
Jim Prior and Arthur Scargill face the ultimate showdown
CONTEXT: Newly elected Prime Minister Jim Prior inherited a troubled relationship with the more radical trade unions, unofficially led by the charismatic and highly controversial Arthur Scargill, head of the National Union of Mineworkers. As part of his efforts to reduce growing industrial strife and tackle the seemingly unstoppable decline of the noncompetitive areas of British industry - particularly coal -, Prior has decided to gamble on a consensual approach with the more moderate trade unions, hoping to secure a deal which expands Industrial Democracy (following the West German model, with the proposed introduction of Work Councils and increased co-determination) in return for trade union acceptance of managed downsizing of irreversibly declining industries, and the reduction of the remaining wage and price controls. In this he has been bitterly opposed by Scargill, who has been lobbying the unions to reject any government offers and lead a decisive General Strike.
The Options:
Deal: Believing the increase in industrial democracy - sanctioned by their old rival, the Conservative Party - would further cement the importance of the unions in the British economy and make later advances more likely in the future, the bulk of the trade unions end up accepting Prior's offer after additional negotiations, while facing the political risk of empowering the new Prime Minister. Scargill is left alone to plan his own moves.
No Deal: Finding the offer insufficient or believing Prior can be successfully pressured, the bulk of the trade unions counter the Prime Minister's gamble with one of their own. Arthur Scargill successfully leads the charge for a General Strike during the winter of 1984-1985 in the hopes of repeating their victory over Heath in 1973-1974 debacle, while facing the risk of a potential defeat or the situation becoming rapidly unstable.
Two days.
Poll
