The Joy's Of Shipbuilding!

Did you know many of the most famous passenger liners in history were built in the British Isles? To be honest, I was actually aware of this, I’m sure most of you were, but I had no idea just what personal hardship and sacrifice went into this by the shipbuilders. I was watching a program on BBC 4 the other night called, the men who built the liners......
 Now anyone interested in the history of liners/shipyards this is one to watch. (It may possibly be repeated on Bbc iplayer). The documentary was about the several shipyards along the banks of the Clyde. The show combined personal accounts and archive footage to evoke a vivid picture of the unique culture that grew up in the Clyde shipyards. Despite some of the harshest working conditions in industrial history and dire industrial relations, it was here that the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth and the QE2 were built. Such was the Clyde shipbuilders' pride in their work, and the strength of public support, that in 1971 they were able to defy a government attempt to close them down and win the right to carry on shipbuilding.

In 1972 heaths government announced that UCS (upper Clyde ship builder's) would go into liquidation, even though they had a full order book. Rather than take this on the chin Union leaders and the shop stewards had other plans. Immediately the famous UCS work-in began at the Clydebank yard. The men of the ship yards would take over every aspect of the yard's work, including orders, purchasing, and the building of the ships. It was a phenomenal situation that captured the imagination of public and press, and by the next week the other shipyards of UCS were conducting their work-ins. It was accepted the men had won this round of the battle they controlled their shipyards.

What they had no or little control over was cash. But that was not to remain a problem, from other shipyards around Britain and the world, from other unions in Britain and around the world, through mass media campaigns, and from a supportive public the cash came in to aid the historic work in. Even John and Yoko Lennon donated £1000. By August over £46,000 had been collected. But this was just the start. Public support gathered like a snowball, demonstrations attracted people from all over the UK and the government even found itself criticised by its own friends in business who accused the government of seeking to bash the workers and little else. That these same business would lose thousands of pounds owed to them if UCS was liquidated may have had some bearing!

I will not drone on any longer, the government did cave in to public support and gave UCS more money, however in the end this was not enough as many of the ship yards would soon close, and where the was once 50 yards on the Clyde only about 2 now remain! Unfortunately the Golden era of British ship building was over, and most of what we have left is just memories.