Kath Smith (Standard) tape 2

Reference number	1213/1/74
Date	25 Nov 1980
Level	Item
Description	Smith was born around 1917 in Coventry and began work assisting female sewing machinists at Standard in June 1932 (she became a machinist herself at the age of 16). She joined the Transport and General Workers’ Union in 1934 and remained until 1976, chairing the local branch for many years. During the Second World War she was an inspector in the machine shop and became a shop steward. She was the wife of Jack Smith. Subjects include: negotiation of piecework prices; greater job security provided by large gangs; demarcation disputes between gangs; advantages of gang system over measured day-work; victimisation of shop stewards in selections for compulsory redundancies in 1956 because of strike over automation in 1955; influence of communist shop stewards at Standard; qualities of Eddie McGarry, TGWU convenor. Recorded on side A only. Currys C120.
Extent	1 cassette
Access status	Open
Related material	Transcript at 625/14/42.
URL description	To play digital copy click or tap URL below.
URL	https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/explorefurther/speakingarchives/1213-1-74_side_a.mp3
Category	Sound recordings: interviews/reminiscences
Format	Compact Cassette(s) Digitised audio
Language/script	English

Session inactive