Trade Unions and the world of work
The period 1945 to 1969 saw unprecedented growth in the UK economy, to the extent that Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was able to tell the electorate 'You've never had it so good' during the 1959 general election campaign, but at times it was also a difficult period, for both employers and employees. After the end of the war, goods were produced merely to pay off Britain's debts, and after working and fighting through the war, the working classes demanded better wages and conditions, and a higher standard of living.The Daily Mail, where Illingworth worked, was not a newspaper noted for its support of trades unions, and in many instances Illingworth portrayed strikers as selfish individuals, willing to inconvenience everyone else, and ruin the country in order to get what they wanted. Illingworth's cartoons refer to all manner of industrial disputes as well as the growth in the economy. Many union leaders are portrayed in his cartoons, and he pays special attention to the Trades Unions Congress (TUC) and the relationship between the Labour Party and the Trades Unions.
Cartoons referring to strikes
Cartoon which refers to the railway workers' strike
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ILW2407
30 January 1955
30 January 1955
Cartoons which refer to the coal miners' strike, women at Ford's Halewood factory on strike, the dockers' strike and the Closed Shop.
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ILW2478
23 June 1955
23 June 1955
ILW4208
21 June 1968
21 June 1968
ILW1829
12 February 1951
12 February 1951
ILW1843
4 April 1951
4 April 1951
Click here for more cartoons relating to strikes in the 1940s
Click here for more cartoons relating to strikes in the 1950s
Click here for more cartoons relating to strikes in the 1960s
Click here for more cartoons relating to strikes in the 1950s
Click here for more cartoons relating to strikes in the 1960s
The economy
Cartoons which refer to the state of Britain's economy, the Governor of the Bank of England's economic forecast and takeovers in the media industry.
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ILW2856
8 April 1958
8 April 1958
ILW4504
27 February 1960
27 February 1960
ILW3294
1 February 1961
1 February 1961
Labour and the unions
These cartoons refer to the relationship between the Labour Party and the trade unions during the 1940s and the 1960s.
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ILW4183
22 March 1968
22 March 1968
ILW3825
9 September 1964
9 September 1964
ILW1488
7 September 1948
7 September 1948
TUC
Illingworth portrays the TUC as an irresponsible organisation in these cartoons.
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ILW2676
7 September 1956
7 September 1956
ILW3695
7 September 1963
7 September 1963
Commerce
Cartoons referring to the labour problems in Britain after the war, in the context of competition from the United States and Japan.
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ILW1990
17 September 1952
17 September 1952
ILW0973
10 September 1945
10 September 1945
Union Leaders
Richard Greene, 1910- , General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) 1957-1975
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ILW4503
14 February 1960
14 February 1960
George Woodcock, 1904-1979, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress 1960-1969
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ILW4464
1965
1965
Further information about the history of the trade union movement can be found at the Spartacus Schoolnet website, the BBC History website and the
TUC website.
Search the cartoon collection on the e-Resources catalogue
Search the cartoon collection on the e-Resources catalogue