Winter of Discontent
Proper noun
Meaning
Winter of Discontent
(UK politics, historical) A period during 1978–79 in the United Kingdom, when the Labour Party's efforts to control inflation led to widespread strikes by public-sector trade unions demanding larger pay rises.
winter of discontent
Alternative letter-case form of Winter of Discontent
Examples
Callaghan also later admitted in regard to the Winter of Discontent that he had "let the country down".
"Winter of Discontent" main Callaghan's method of dealing with the long-term economic difficulties involved pay restraint which had been operating for four years with reasonable success.
Ironically, if the proposals had become law, many of the activities of the trades unions during the Winter of Discontent a decade later would have been illegal.
The trade unions rejected continued pay restraint and in a succession of strikes over the winter of 1978–79 (known as the Winter of Discontent ) secured higher pay.