British trade unions, 1945-1995 / by Chris Wrigley.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. The trade unions as widely respected parts of post-war society: the Attlee and Churchill years, 1945-1955 -- 2. Moving towards consultation: the Conservatives and the trade unions, 1955-1964 -- 3. The Donovan Commission and diagnosing ailments of British industrial relations in the mid to late 1960s -- 4. Governments, legislation and the trade unions after Donovan, 1969-1976 -- 5. Incomes policies, 1964-1979 -- 6. Workers' participation in industry -- 7. Strikes -- 8. Conservative governments' trade union legislation, 1979-1993 -- 9. Trade union recruitment, organisation and other concerns.

British Trade Unions 1945-1995 examines one of the most contentious areas of post 1945 British political and economic history. Chris Wrigley provides an analysis of trade union development, trade union relations with government and trade union impact on industrial relations and the economy generally.

In setting trade union history in a broad context, Professor Wrigley offers a fresh and succinct reassessment. He draws on a wide range of primary sources, providing material from unfamiliar sources, as well as from key documents such as the Donovan Report. Among other things, this material highlights the changing attitudes within the Conservative Party towards the trade unions.

This is a very welcome guide to many controversial issues as well as an important new selection of primary source material. It is an important book for all those interested in trade union history and an invaluable text book for all those studying modern British history, politics and industrial relations.