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==Origin of the phrase==
==Origin of the phrase==
''"Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York"'' was written by [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] in his play '''Richard III''' (1594). It actually means that the period of discontent or unhappiness is ending, winter marking the end of a cycle. The phrase was used to describe the social and industrial unrest of the 1978-79 winter by the political editor of the British national [[newspaper]] ''The Sun''.
''"Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York"'' was written by [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] in his play '''Richard III''' (1594). It actually means that the period of discontent or unhappiness is ending, winter marking the end of a cycle. The phrase was used to describe the social and industrial unrest of the 1978-79 winter by the political editor of the British national [[newspaper]] ''The Sun''.
==Background==
The "discontent" of British workers had been building for several years; [[inflation]] had reached 26.9% in August 1975, and the incumbent [[Labour Party|Labour]] government under [[Prime Minister]] [[Harold Wilson]] introduced a "cap" on pay increases for workers at limits set by the government, and far below the rate of inflation. For workers earning under £8,500 ($16,900) a year the maximum pay increase could not exceed £6 ($12) per week.
==References==
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