The Wapping Dispute

This work is a detailed analysis of the Wapping dispute. Placing emphasis on labour relations and the legal aspects of the conflict, it offers a descriptive account of how News International utilized changes in labour law implemented by Thatcher's Conservative government to overcome Fleet Street's omnipotent printing industry. This study fosters an understanding of the forces which contributed to this historically significant confrontation by providing a cursory examination of the development of labour relations and the characteristics endemic of Fleet Street. A profile of Rupert Murdoch and News International's prominence in the industry, a discussion of the political and socio-economic climate and resulting Employment and Trade Union Reform Acts, and other influential issues, complete the relevant background information. A full chronology recounts the progression of this protracted industrial dispute. Concluding commentary focuses on the sweeping exodus from Fleet Street and Wapping's impact on the transformation and future of the national newspaper industry.
The reaction of the printing unions and the trade union movement is analyzed, along with details of the company's expansion and influence following the de-unionization of its workforce.