18. Business (Unionism) as usual¶
Core Argument¶
The 1951 Conservative victory inaugurated thirteen years of Tory rule, a period underwritten by a global economic upswing that reinforced systemic illusions within British capitalism. This prosperity emboldened the right-wing leadership of the labour movement, who preached class harmony and Keynesian fine-tuning in place of class struggle. The TUC General Council, dominated by this faction, issued a statement anticipating continued consultation with the new government. With organised labour strengthened, the ruling class pursued collaboration, deploying union bureaucrats to police their members, stabilise wages, and boost productivity. The triumvirate of Arthur Deakin (TGWU), Tom Williamson (GMWU), and Will Lawther (NUM) ruled the movement autocratically, wielding bloc votes in the TUC and Labour Party. Williamson even attended the first Bilderberg Group meeting in 1954. The economic boom permitted modest, productivity-linked wage increases, and employers preferred negotiated settlements to strikes, rendering the 1950s a period of relative social peace. The TGWU under Deakin epitomised right-wing reaction, treating internal democracy as an impediment and shop stewards as troublemakers. An early 1950s Ford agreement centralised power, curtailed stewards, and virtually outlawed shop-floor bargaining, granting management the power to veto steward nominations.
The Communist Party’s industrial base attracted militant shop stewards and convenors, yet its Stalinist leadership had long abandoned revolutionary perspectives, seeking accommodation with the union bureaucracy. This reformist drift fostered opportunism within the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), where CP-aligned officials committed election fraud, forgery, and ballot-rigging to retain their positions. Woodrow Wyatt MP and the BBC’s Panorama exposed these malpractices, followed by the New Statesman. The TUC demanded explanations; an internal ETU enquiry exonerated the leaders. In 1960, Byrne and Chapple issued writs for fraud in the 1959 general secretary election. In June 1961, the courts found ETU leaders Foulkes and Haxell had prevented Byrne’s election by fraudulent means, declaring Byrne duly elected. The CP distanced itself, blaming Haxell, who resigned from the party. The TUC expelled the ETU; under new procedures, Byrne’s supporters won control. Rules were changed banning CP members from holding office. Cannon and Chapple then consolidated right-wing control, abolishing rank-and-file committees, banning unauthorised circulars and inter-branch communication, closing branches, and replacing elected officials with appointees. Chapple became general secretary, concentrating power and secretly taping conversations.