General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

GB

Had Barbara Castle's proposed legislation 'In Place of Strife',supported by the PM Harold Wilson, not been scuppered by Jim Callaghan the winter of discontent would not have taken place. In that event it would probably have ensured a Labour victory at the 1979 election. The subsequent legislation introduced by the Thatcher government was more of less the same as that envisaged by 'In Place of Strife.'
Your facts re being offered their job back are not correct.
Employment protection legislation has always allowed employment tribunals to order reinstatement. The employer, however, could legally refuse. A refusal usually carried a doubling of the unfair dismissal compensation.