Morey, Chris
2013 "Morey, Chris", 2013, HistoryTalk Chris was born in Somerset in 1947 and went to Reading University following the expansion of HE outlined in the Robbins report. He then started work for Ealing Council in 1969 as a trainee librarian. He attended Ealing technical College (now TVU) to o...
| Institution: | TUC - Trade Union Congress Library |
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| Language: | English |
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London
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/2A99C9AF-BE60-49DE-939B-25620E075A9C http://hdl.handle.net/10796/6841943B-70DD-44A5-91CA-18B87D5B70EE |
| Summary: | 2013
"Morey, Chris", 2013, HistoryTalk
Chris was born in Somerset in 1947 and went to Reading University following the expansion of HE outlined in the Robbins report. He then started work for Ealing Council in 1969 as a trainee librarian. He attended Ealing technical College (now TVU) to obtain a post- graduate qualification in librarianship. His family had no explicit political background but his school years radicalised him as the 1960s was a period of change in ideas and attitudes. Describes changes to library service and the problems thrown up for staff and unions.
Chris was always a member of a trade union, belonging to NALGO. He became a branch secretary in 1979 as 10% funding cuts were being made. He was a full- time union officer for over 20 years. Describes the old style branch meetings and the development of a new union approach in NALGO in the 1970s. Describes the psychology of union members that led to a more collective approach to issues and contrasts this with the contemporary individualism in the trade union movement. Describes the job of branch secretary in NALGO and strategies used in fighting cuts and meetings with borough politicians and role of Labour in period 1986- 90. Describes background to six- week strike in 1986 over inner London weighting and strikes in the early 1980s. Notes the radicalisation of NALGO white- collar members and the democratic culture of NALGO at that time. Notes the merger of NALGO, NUPE and COHSE to form UNISON in 1993, political funds and single status. Describes typical problems of union organising in the 1980s/ 90s and dealing with privatisation of services and TUPE regulations. Outlines problems in affiliating NALGO to local trades council. Discusses changes to union culture and union education/ training.
In this clip Chris talks about his motive for becoming a branch secretary, and goes on to describe how the council's attempts to prevent action against cuts backfired.
Click on the pdf icon to read the entire transcript or click on the mp3 icon to hear a clip of the interview. |
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| Physical Description: | Photograph TEXT |