The ’80s: The Thatcher-led Tory government rejected the welfare state, nationalisaton and the regulation of finance, and embraced free-market monetarism. Wapping: The Workers’ Story ***** Platform Films 2024
In January 1986 a momentous year-long industrial dispute began when Thatcher ally Rupert Murdoch plotted to move production of his papers overnight from Central London’s Fleet Street to a secretly equipped and heavily guarded at Wapping. ibid.
Those sacked by Murdoch who in their struggle against a ruthless employer came up against the power of the state. ibid.
‘You could barely see one end of the machine room from the other because of all the ink fly and the paper dust.’ ibid. Printer
‘Probably more like 15% earned a really good industrial wage.’ ibid.
‘They forget that there’s lots of other people in the buildings.’ ibid.
In 1972 mass industrial action by print workers shut down Fleet Street in support of five dockers jailed under Tory anti-union laws. ibid.
1969: Murdoch buys The Sun and The News of the World. ibid.
1981: Murdoch buys The Times and The Sunday Times. ibid.
1984: Murdoch applies for US citizenship.
‘They [Electricians’ Union members] were being bussed into Wapping and trained on site.’ ibid.
‘There was new technology on The Times and The Mirror but it had always been negotiated.’ ibid.
1986: All agreements and conditions of employment were terminated by News International. The print unions balloted for strike action with a 90% return and 82% in favour. ibid.
‘It wasn’t a strike, it was a lockout.’ ibid.
‘Large numbers of his members [journalists’ union] had voted the other way.’ ibid.
820 clerical workers were involved in the dispute, 47% of them women. ibid.
Picketing took place at Wapping and at Kinning Park in Glasgow where a new plant was secretly developed. Staffed by electricians, The News of the World printed there in January. ibid.
‘They [rozzers] were hate-filled. In the main they bought the Thatcher line completely, the ‘them and us’.’ ibid.
‘In that period none of us had any money whatsoever.’ ibid.
The strikers were sustained by the solidarity of thousands of people in the UK and abroad. ibid.
Picket leader and SOGAT executive member Mike Hicks was convicted of ABH against the police in December. ibid.
The dispute was called off in February 1987. SOGAT cited renewed legal action by the company, and the NGA followed with a similar announcement. ibid.