Accession Number

B144

Series Title

[UNKNOWN]

Programme Title

PILKINGTON WORKERS RETURN TO WORK

Producer

[Unknown]

Other Credits

Presenter: John Humphrys

Transmission Date

12/05/70

b/w, mute+sound, 05 mins 05 secs

Synopsis

Part mute black and white footage showing those involved in the industrial dispute at Pilkington's Glass, St Helens in 1970 (an unofficial strike by GMWU members [General and Municipal Workers' Union] in which they attempted to form a breakaway glassworkers' union). Presenter John Humphrys interviews the two opposing camps: the union leaders and the strike committee, also union members. A union spokesman talks about their fight against "Communist" literature and badges issued by striking union members to Pilkington's workers and claims staff have been intimidated and threatened with "terror tactics" by strikers. The strike committee are interviewed and claim the union officials have not listened to its members and their Chairman claims he has been subjected to threats from the Union officials. There are shots of workers walking to the factory, pickets and policemen on patrol. 05m05s