Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This study is available via the UK Data Service Qualibank, an online tool for browsing, searching and citing the content of selected qualitative data collections held at the UK Data Service.

This second phase study was a general and comparative investigation of trade unionism in the ports of London, Liverpool, Birkenhead and Hull, from 1945-1967, with an emphasis on the development of workplace and unofficial organisation. Particular attention was given to obtaining full accounts of the informal practices of the labour market and to the different attitudes to piecework. The data collected included documentary research on public and private papers of trade unions, employers and employers organisations, port joint negotiating committees, and in-depth interviews looking at the influence of ideological and cultural factors in the formation of policies in both workers' and employers' organisations.


Main Topics:

Ports; docks; dockers; labour and employment; trade unions; trade union officials; labour relations; labour conflict; labour disputes; employers' organisations.