Description

Cummings was the General Secretary, so like many Trades Union histories, when not written by an outsider, this is not an “easy read”, being at times more like a composite resolution for presentation to the Trades Union Congress. Having made that point, the book does cover the history of the union, from the member’s viewpoint. Much of the second half is taken up with disputes settled by As a small boy in the 1950’s, I clearly remember the first time that I realized the adult world was quite mad. This was the “string twanging” strike at Cammel Laird on the Mersey. The yard was brought to a halt over a row as to who should “twang” the chalk covered string to mark out steel plates for cutting. There were I think three unions involved, but as I was only six at the time, I cannot recall the details or the resolution. There are similar cases chronicled in this book. To fix a rifle rack to a bulkhead for example, one trade was responsible for marking the screw holes, one for drilling the holes and one for fixing the screws. When combined with poor and complacent managements, is it any wonder that Britain no longer has a shipbuilding industry worth talking about? This is a useful work for anyone interested in the development of labour relations in the shipbuilding and engineering industries.

PREVIEW BELOW – MAY TAKE A WHILE TO LOAD.