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Regulation 1AA (pg. 4)
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The numbers of strikes and days lost through strikes increased in each year of the war. In 1944, there were over 2000 disputes with 3.7 million days lost, mainly in coal mining. Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour, thought the strikes were being instigated by external political forces. A new Defence Regulation 1AA, passed 17 April 1944, made it an offence to "instigate or incite any other person to take part in, or otherwise act in furtherance of, any stoppage among persons engaged in the performance of essential services". Penalties included a maximum of 5 years prison sentence or a £500 fine. At the same time, Defence Regulation 1A was amended to make peaceful picketing illegal. No proceedings were instituted under the new Regulation, although their threat may have acted as some deterrent. The TUC statement accepts the need for the new Regulation and criticises Aneurin Bevan who led the opposition to its introduction.

Title TUC Statement on Regulation 1AA, 1944 (pg. 4)
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