Class Struggle: Film from the Clyde: Saturday 19th May

As part of the Southside Festival, The Pearce Institute in Govan will be screening the Class Struggle: Film from the Clyde, which records the dramatic events of the UCS work-in of 1971-2 inside the shipyards. Film collective, Cinema Action, were the only film crew allowed access to the shipyards by the Shop Stewards’ Committee during the work-in. It was one of the most exciting and powerful struggles against unemployment in Britain.

The shipyard work-in - organised by Jimmy Reid, Jimmy Airlie, Sammy Barr and Sammy Gilmore - was an alternative to a strike. It came after the new Conservative government insisted that shipbuilding should not rely on government subsidies, and refused to hand over more money to keep the UCS yards open. The decision meant at least 6,000 of the 8,500 shipyard workers employed by UCS would have to be made redundant.

The work-in saw workers manage and operate the UCS shipyards until the government changed its policy. It was intended to prove that the yards were viable. The UK government, led by Ted Heath, finally relented in February 1972 and announced a £35m injection of cash into the yards.

Film Screening Saturday 19th May: 3pm - 5pm: Tickets Free (But Donation Welcome)