Roach was born in 1906. She worked at Bird’s custard factory and Enstone Ltd, a small engineering firm in Evelyn Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham before joining Lucas in 1924. She joined the Transport and General Workers’ Union in the 1930s and the Amalgamated Engineering Union during the Second World War, having become a toolmaker. She was an active member of the Labour Party. She retired in 1966.
Subjects include:
Side A: nature of work at Lucas during her early years there (making electrical parts and fittings and cycle lamps); 1922 lock-out of engineering workers; expansion of Lucas plant in the 1930s; spontaneous strike against the introduction of Bedaux system in 1936; unfairness of the system; disputes over timing of jobs for setting of piecework rates.
Side B: Roach’s work as a toolmaker during Second World War and her joining the AEU; her generous Lucas pension and other retirement benefits; her membership of the AEU district committee in the 1940s.
TDK D-C120.