Work and industry

Industrial action by the baker’s union has resulted in massive queues forming at bakeries across the region. This was just one of many strikes in the mid-1970s, a period of industrial unrest fuelled by the Heath government’s attempts to tackle the unions and keep wages and inflation.

The British shoe manufacturing industry is in decline, faced with competition from cheaper imports. In protest against plans for large-scale redundancies, workers from two shoe factories are staging a work-in at the K Shoes factory in Norwich. Judy Finnigan finds out what’s going on and representatives of unions and management have their say.

The way the BBC reports the story of the management lock-out at K Shoes in Norwich is an interesting contrast to Anglia’s report [above]. Here the factory’s production director is interviewed, followed by the union’s shop steward.

Hundreds of bottles of Morgans’ Jubilee pale ale clank their way round the brewery production line and customers at the Old Barge (now part of Dragon Hall, Norwich) taste the new offering, brewed to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Days before the first national firefighters’ strike is due to begin, elderly Green Goddess army fire engines are preparing to provide emergency cover. Ipswich MP Ken Weetch and Suffolk’s chief fire officer discuss the strike’s potential consequences.

Corby’s skyline is dominated by the massive steelworks, but all that is about to change. One week before the entire steelmaking operation closes, three of the 10,000 workers about to lose their jobs discuss what the future may hold.

A huge rally gathers at County Hall in Norwich and marches through the city to protest against cuts in public sector spending. One of the speakers is local MP John Garrett.