British trade unions and industrial politics

Volume 1: the post-war compromise, 1945-64; Volume 2: the high tide of trade unionism 1964-79

Edited by Alan Campbell, Nina Fishman, John McIlroy , Merlin, 388/432 pages, both paperback, £18.95 each

When these two volumes first appeared in hardback nearly a decade ago, Labour Research described them as “scholarly, critical and committed”, with essays that “greatly expand our understanding of the trade union movement”.

This as true now as it was then. The essays in the collection discuss many of the seminal moments in post-war trade union history, when unions were a far greater force politically and industrially than they are today. In particular, volume two draws attention to the often forgotten “glorious summer” of 1972 and explodes many of the myths around the “winter of discontent” in 1978-79.

So their publication in paperback is most welcome, making them more affordable and hopefully more widely read. In addition the new introduction by John McIlroy is sharp, incisive and engaging, explaining the strength and limits of union power during the period.

McIlroy also reviews a number of studies of trade unionism from the last decade and finds that, despite Thatcherism and the Blair period, trade unionism remains very much alive. Further volumes to bring the series up-to-date would be most welcome.