14 December 2018

By Eileen Turnball and Carolyn Jones

In 1972, building workers across the UK took part in the first ever national strike. At that time, construction workers faced powerful, hostile employers. Lump labour (bogus self-employment) was common and health and safety measures were non-existent. At the end of the twelve-week dispute, in September 1972, they succeeded in winning the highest ever pay rise in the history of the industry.