Upper Clyde Shipbuilders

Upper Clyde Shipbuilders was formed from several of the largest shipyards on the River Clyde in Scotland British shipbuilding company.

History

Participating shipyards

The company was founded in 1968, based on the recommendations of the Geddes Report, by the merger of the following shipyards:

Insolvency

During the construction of a series of vessels of Cardiff - class, the company became insolvent in 1971. The necessary for the continuation of the company's loans of approximately six million pounds sterling were denied by the Tory government under Edward Heath, which subsequently led to a special kind of strike.

Union strategy

In contrast, as expected by all, the tips of the trade unions involved agreed instead to respond in the form of a strike with one in the language of the time " work-in " called protest and to complete the ships under construction. In this way the workers were hoping for one to illustrate the survival instincts of the shipyards and the time to rebut against the background of continuous strikes in the shipyards, frequently made ​​accusation that the shipyard workers were work-shy. The "protest by continuing to work " was organized in this way by the two stewards Jimmy Airlie and Jimmy Reid, both of which the Communist Party of Great Britain belonged. Thanks to the strict organization of all stewards employed on site by Reid and Airley the protest succeeded very well. Reid continued to ensure the best possible impression of the shipyard workers, on strict adherence to discipline. He instructed the workers to the effect that there should be during the protest " no hooliganism, no vandalism and no carousing " (no hooliganism, no vandalism and no bevvying ).

History and impact

Reid's tactic worked and the public perception of the area around Glasgow and beyond was on the side of the participating shipyard workers. The campaign was supported by demonstrations in Glasgow, where up to 80,000 people took part. On such a demonstration Tony Benn gave a speech to the participants, the folk singer Matt McGinn and the comedian Billy Connolly, both former shipyard worker who took care of the entertainment part of the event.

In February 1972, the Heath government finally relented and let two of the shipyards, Yarrow Shipbuilders and Fairfield Shipbuilders, go back into service. The insolvent shipyard of John Brown & Company was sold and served until 2001 for the construction of oil rigs. In the course of two large shipyards remained in operation, Yarrows and Govan Shipbuilders on the Upper Clyde.

Some observers noted that the very successful " work-in " the laissez- faire attitude of the shipyard workers of that time ended, and so the development of a competitive stance introduced, which should further increase later in the reign of Margaret Thatcher on. On 1 July 1977 Yarrows and Govan was incorporated in the State British Shipbuilders Corporation. In 1985, the sale to the GEC -Marconi and the re-privatization under the name Marconi Marine ( YSL ) was performed. As Marconi Electronic Systems was sold to British Aerospace in 1999, BAE Systems was formed. From Marconi Marine ( YSL ) BAE Systems was Marine ( YSL ). As of 2008, the two traditional shipyards Yarrows and Govan as part of BAT Surface Fleet, a joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group, formerly Vosper Thornycroft operate and deal with the development and construction of naval ships.

Trivia

The campaign was financially healthy feet and a meeting has been handed down in this connection that Jimmy Reid was able to announce the receipt of a £ 5000 pound donation "of Lennon", after which one of the participants returned " but Lenin is dead" ( but Lenin 's deid! ).

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