Recording and transcript of Catherine Johnstone in conversation with Rory Stride in July 2018. Catherine Johnstone worked at Templeton’s carpet factory from 1968 to 1981. She went on to work for Diggens Bakery from 1982 to 1985.
[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:00:16] Talks about place of birth and childhood.
[00:01:21] Describes early working life.
[00:03:15] Describes time at Templeton’s, employment patterns, social clubs, staff training, process and skills needed for making each carpet, staff wages.
[00:08:43] Describes working conditions at Templeton’s, discusses piecework, noise levels in factory.
[00:13:05] Discusses staff camaraderie.
[00:15:20] Describes health impacts of working in a factory and the way staff were treated by the company, comments on medical team and staff canteen, gender divisions in labour and friendships.
[00:25:41] Discusses staff trade unions.
[00:27:39] Describes staff friendships.
[00:30:58] Talks about moving to different factory locations within the firm, differences between the two factory sites.
[00:36:42] Discusses Templeton’s staff pride.
[00:40:42] Talks about the closure period of the factory from 1978 to 1981, staff redundancy letters, staff opinions on redundancy.
[00:45:46] Describes role at Diggens Bakery.
[00:48:28] Discusses Templeton’s redundancy and financial difficulties for those made redundant.
[00:51:25] Discusses different ways to remember the history of Templeton’s.
[00:55:01] Summarises final thoughts on working for Templeton’s.
[00:58:01] Discusses the study of Glasgow’s industrial history with regard to women.
[01:01:57] Talks about staff camaraderie.
[01:04:36] Interview concludes.