Political Developments: Issues with Trade Unions - Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Flashcards
Where was UCS located?
Glasgow
How significant had UCS been for Britain?
It was the world center of shipbuilding for over 100 years
What was the problem for UCS by the 1970s in terms of competition?
Foreign ship building industries had more investment, not hand-built ships
How were UCS ships still made?
Still hand-built
What would have happened if UCS closed?
1000s would be unemployed
Why was the UCS location bad for other jobs?
Unlikely to find other places to work
Who stood up to represent UCS workers?
Shop-steward Jimmy Reid
What did Reid encourage the workers to do?
A work-in
What is a work-in?
Working even though the business is closed
Was the Protest of the work-in violent?
No
What reaction was there from the public? What did they do?
They supported UCS and sent in donations
Who was a significant individual who sent in a donation? How much money?
John Lennon, Over £1000
When did the government give up trying to fight the UCS? (To the month)
February 1972
What did the government do when they gave up?
Gave £35 million to UCS to keep it running
Why is the government response to the UCS issue significant?
It went against their policy of not funding lame duck industries
