The working class was born into struggle as workers fought for a living wage. In the years since the fight for a decent life has waxed and waned.
Notable victories include the achievement of the 1945-50 Labour government which created the NHS and welfare.
Notable defeats include the miners’ strike of 1984.
Today in the age of austerity times are hard indeed. But there are signs that once again the working class is fighting back with strikes on the rise and trade union membership increasing.
We'd like you to share your thoughts with us and with each other. Here are some questions to ponder:
- What is the relationship between class and struggle?
- Do we still have class politics?
- What are the issues?
- Where are these issues contested?
Let us know your responses to the statements below, then give us some more of your thoughts, experiences and memories of working class struggle in the comments section lower down this page.
Once you've discussed struggle, you can visit other discussion hubs about working class work, housing, leisure and representation. You can also order a free journal of working class life to dig deeper in to each of these issues.
Rate and Review
Rate this activity
Review this activity
Log into OpenLearn to leave reviews and join in the conversation.
Activity reviews
All I know is that when I looked up social mobility stats for this country I was shocked. Today 91-93% of the people stay at the social/economic (whatever you want to call it)level they were born in. Currently, very few citizens are able to break rank. In the late '70s and '80s social mobility was at its highest: 24% and that was due to low education fees, and as good a quality education as possible in State schools preparing those who wanted to, to go on to uni, self same schools which helped create a sense of commonality between citizens. Education is the HEART of equality and well-being in society, no matter what 'class' you decide you originate and hail from.
-----Old style comments (this format for comments is no longer supported but is still displayed for reference)------
Nigel Skellett - 23 August 2013 3:37am
The link between class and education should be recognised. I was pleased to hear cricket commentator Michael Vaughan raise his concerns about most of the current England team having been educated privately. There is a danger of a default acceptance of private education being a prerequisite for traditional professions such as medicine and law and increasingly other fields where state education struggles to provide enough time and stimulation whereas academic commentators such as Danny Dorling show evidence is lacking that genetics and class background give an inherent advantage in attainment.
William Astill - 28 August 2013 5:22pm
There may be no evidence that genetics and class background give an advantage in attainment. But I do feel that what Daddy does for a living can give one an edge and coming from a "privileged" background can give one considerable self confidence.
Ann Glynn - 21 December 2013 2:03pm
Privately educated people still hold the majority of jobs in all professions, despite being the smallest percentage of the population. Is there any point in discussing anything further?