Marking a historic victory

Recent months have seen a number of successful events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in.

This dramatic chapter of labour movement history lasted 16 months from July 1971 until October 1972 and finished when the workers won a future for all four of the Clyde dock yards threatened with closure.

Next up in the ongoing programme of celebration is a three-evening event beginning on Wednesday at the Mitchell Hall in Glasgow, where two of the most important films made during the work-in will be screened.

UCS 1 and Class Struggle: Film From The Clyde were made by radical film-makers Cinema Action. Theirs was the only film crew allowed into the yards by union stewards during the work-in.

They followed the action as the stewards took over the yards and prevented the butchery planned by the Tory government of the time.

The result is these two unique films from the struggle.

UCS 1 is a short film depicting the workers' strategy, how they gained community support for their campaign and took the fight right to the door of the Heath government.

Class Struggle: Film From The Clyde is a full-length documentary on the work-in, concentrating on the workers and shop stewards and their activity in running the yards and highlighting their fight to "keep what is keepable."

Jimmy Cloughley was on the UCS joint shop stewards committee and had special responsibility for communications inside and outside the yard.

Allowing the film crew in paid off, he says.

"We wanted to ensure that the viewpoint of the workforce was recorded and Cinema Action did that job admirably.

"It was an historic struggle and an historic victory, and these films give a real flavour of the times. They are truly unique."

Stephen Farmer, an apprentice during the work-in, was given the job of taking the crew around and got to know them very well.

"Ultimately I was laid off once my apprenticeship finished," he says.

"But Cinema Action kept me on to continue working with them. Too often with working-class history things aren't well recorded and I'm proud that I did my bit both in taking part and in helping to ensure this one was recorded."

The event, which is sponsored by Unite, will see panel discussions each evening, with speakers including Dr Chik Collins, STUC president Mike Kirby, comedian Susan Morrison and Unite Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty.

Along with the films, a short history entitled UCS 40th Anniversary, produced by Kevin Buchanan of the STUC and written by historian John Foster, will be narrated by the actor and director David Hayman.

Hayman, who'll also be taking part in one of the panel discussions on Friday along with one of Cinema Action's founders Ann Guedes, says the films are a reminder of an an extraordinary time.

"Suddenly a new way was possible in our world due to the courage of a group of hard-working men and women who seized the day with boldness and imagination. People power in action."

The event is being held at Mitchell Hall, Granville Street, Glasgow, from March 21-23. To book seats, visit www.glasgowconcerthalls.com.