Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Change and challenge in the workplace: the reasons for, and consequences…
Full specification wording
A changing political and economic environment, 1918–79: Change and challenge in the workplace: the reasons for, and consequences of, industrial change and changing industrial relations, 1918–39; changing working opportunities and conditions, 1939–79; industrial relations, 1939–1979, and the reason for their breakdown in the 1960s and 70s.
This topic traces how work changed across six decades.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic traces how work changed across six decades. For 1918–39, explain why industry altered — slump, new sectors and rationalisation — and what followed for workers and industrial relations, such as the General Strike of 1926 and the Trades Disputes Act. For 1939–79, examine changing opportunities and conditions: full employment, women's and migrant labour, shift and factory work, and the shift from heavy industry to services. Then study industrial relations from 1939 to 1979, showing how wartime and post-war bargaining gave way to disputes over pay, productivity and union power, and analyse why relations broke down in the 1960s and 70s — inflation, incomes policies, strikes and reform attempts.
What earns the marks
- Explains reasons for industrial change 1918–39, such as interwar depression, declining staple exports and growth in newer consumer industries.
- Assesses consequences of that change for workers and industrial relations, including unemployment, wage cuts, union membership and the General Strike.
- Analyses changing working opportunities and conditions 1939–79, covering full employment, women's employment, migrant workers, hours, pay and workplace safety.
- Explains the development of industrial relations 1939–79, including collective bargaining, national agreements and the role of unions and employers.
- Evaluates why industrial relations broke down in the 1960s and 70s, linking inflation, incomes policies, unofficial strikes and reform proposals.
- Uses specific evidence accurately and reaches a supported judgement on the relative importance of causes and consequences.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating 1918–39 as uniform decline.
Put it right: Distinguish depressed staple industries from growing new ones and explain regional variation.
Listing strikes without explaining causes.
Put it right: Link each dispute to pay, hours, union recognition or government policy.
Assuming all workers gained equally after 1939.
Put it right: Compare experiences by gender, region, skill and ethnicity.
Exam tips
- Plan by the three date bands in the statement so every clause is addressed.
- Anchor each argument in named events, legislation or statistics rather than general claims.
- For breakdown questions, rank causes and explain links between economic pressure and industrial action.
Try the lesson
The start of the A changing political and economic environment, 1918–79: Change and challenge in the workplace: the reasons for, and consequences of, industrial change and changing industrial relations, 1918–39; changing working opportunities and conditions, 1939–79; industrial relations, 1939–1979, and the reason for their breakdown in the 1960s and 70s. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which development of the 1920s most directly reduced the bargaining power of British trade unions in the older staple industries?
Listen
This topic traces how work changed across six decades. For 1918–39, explain why industry altered — slump, new sectors and rationalisation — and what followed for workers and industrial relations, such as the General Strike of 1926 and the Trades Disputes Act. For 1939–79, examine changing opportunities and conditions: full employment, women's and migrant labour, shift and factory work, and the shift from heavy industry to services. Then study industrial relations from 1939 to 1979, showing how wartime and post-war bargaining gave way to disputes over pay, productivity and union power, and analyse why relations broke down in the 1960s and 70s — inflation, incomes policies, strikes and reform attempts. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains reasons for industrial change 1918–39, such as interwar depression, declining staple exports and growth in newer consumer industries. Assesses consequences of that change for workers and industrial relations, including unemployment, wage cuts, union membership and the General Strike. Analyses changing working opportunities and conditions 1939–79, covering full employment, women's employment, migrant workers, hours, pay and workplace safety. Explains the development of industrial relations 1939–79, including collective bargaining, national agreements and the role of unions and employers. A common slip: Treating 1918–39 as uniform decline. Instead, distinguish depressed staple industries from growing new ones and explain regional variation. Exam tip: Plan by the three date bands in the statement so every clause is addressed.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Industrial change and its human consequences
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Continuity and change in working conditions
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Economic pressure and industrial conflict
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Industrial change and its human consequences
- Industry altered through slump, new sectors and rationalisation in 1918–39, with consequences for workers including unemployment, wage cuts and union membership.
- Continuity and change in working conditions
- Working opportunities and conditions changed from 1939 to 1979, covering full employment, women's and migrant labour, hours, pay and workplace safety.
- Economic pressure and industrial conflict
- Relations broke down in the 1960s and 70s through inflation, incomes policies, strikes and reform attempts.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of A changing political and economic environment, 1918–79: Change and challenge in the workplace: the reasons for, and consequences of, industrial change and changing industrial relations, 1918–39; changing working opportunities and conditions, 1939–79; industrial relations, 1939–1979, and the reason for their breakdown in the 1960s and 70s.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge