Inside Cowley

What happened to the trade unions in Britain over the past two decades? How was trade union strength, which reached its height in the 1970s, seriously weakened by the end of the 1980s? How was a powerful shop stewards' movement reduced to a fraction of its former strength? How, in only twelve years, did the unions lose 50% of their members and most of their social weight? Was it weaknesses within the unions themselves, the question of leadership, or the strength of the employers and the Thatcher governments? How did crackdowns by trade union leaders on militant trade unionism in the 1970s aid the success of Thatcherism in the 1980s?

Inside Cowley traces key events in the 1970s and 1980s: the 1978-79 winter of discontent; the 1979 sacking of Derek Robinson in British Leyland; the 1980 steel strike; the anti-trade union laws and the collapse of the TUC in front of them; the abandonment of the printers at Warrington and the isolation and defeat of the miners in 1984-85. It traces the impact, on the unions and the shop stewards' movement, of the 1974-79 Labour governments; the Vietnam war; the Portuguese revolution; the overthrow of dictatorship in Nicaragua; and the emergence of Solidarnosc in Poland.

Inside Cowley seeks to provide some of the answers through a unique, first-hand, account of trade union struggles in British Leyland and in Cowley, its most militant plant. If the strength of the trade unions is to rebuilt, as it can be, the movement must be armed with the lessons of the past.

The author, Alan Thornett, was shop steward and deputy convenor of the Cowley plant during its most militant period from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Inside Cowley, a 448 page illustrated book, is published by Porcupine at just £11.95 (plus £2.00 post and packaging).Inside Cowley's forerunner From Militancy to Marxism, originally £9.95 is now available at £5.00 (plus £1.50 p&p

Special offer! Purchase both together: £15 plus £3.50 p&p

Please print out the following form and send to Alan Thornett 14 Colyton Rd London SE22 ONE.
Enclose a cheque made out to Alan Thornett.

........................................................................................................Please supply: Inside Cowley From Militancy to MarxismPlease supply both at special offer Cheque enclosed for.......................... Name.......................................................................................................Address....................................................................................................................................................................................................................Send form to: Alan Thornett 14 Colyton Rd London SE22 ONE. Cheques: Alan Thornett.