In July 1978, the Labour Government introduced a new guideline for pay rises of 5%. The TUC voted on 26 July to reject the limit and insist on a return to free collective bargaining. Although the government did not make the 5% limit a legal requirement, it decided to impose sanctions on government contractors who broke the limit.

On 22 January, 1979 public sector unions held a "Day of Action", in which they held a 24-hour strike and marched to demand a £60 per week minimum wage. This photograph shows David Basnett from the General and Municipal Workers' Union and Alan Fisher from the National Union of Public Employees leading the march. Many workers stayed out indefinitely after that day. On 30 January, the Secretary of State for Social Services announced that half of the National Health Service hospitals were only treating emergencies and that few ambulance services were operating normally. By March, health staffs had settled for a 9% increase + £1-2.50.

Title	Public sector 'Day of Action', 1979
Maker	Trades Union Congress
Production Date	1979
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
Related Objects	Our policy for the public sector, 1978