File 1 - Interview with Colin Campbell

1 digital audio file (duration 43 minutes 53 seconds), 1 transcript

Recording and transcript of Colin Campbell in conversation with Rory Stride in October 2016. Colin Campbell worked as a steelworker in Govan from 1979. The discussion covers a wide range of topics with a focus on trade unions and staff drinking alcohol at work.

[00:00:02] Introductions
[00:00:14] Talks about childhood
[00:02:00] Talks about interview process at shipbuilding companies and unemployment in Govan
[00:04:35] Talks about staff at Govan’s shipbuilders, working life and working conditions
[00:08:15] Describes skills required to be a caulker burner
[00:09:03] Describes health and safety and accidents at work
[00:11:26] Talks about staff camaraderie
[00:12:39] Describes closure of shipbuilding yard, redundancy, staff reactions to redundancy
[00:17:40] Talks about trade unions
[00:18:53] Talks about wife’s working patterns
[00:19:50] Discussion about changes in working conditions from 1979-2016, Kvaerner’s takeover of the Fairfield yard in 1988
[00:22:19] Talks about trade unions, shift from boilermakers union to GMB Scotland union, strike action, relationship between staff and shop steward, relationship between staff and management
[00:30:05] Discussion about 1980s politics and politics in 2016
[00:33:15] Talks about staff camaraderie, staff social events, alcohol at work
[00:37:23] Talks about items bought with wages, friendships outside of work
[00:39:34] Discussion about the closure of shipbuilding in Govan and the impact on the area
[00:42:52] Talks about retirement and interview concludes

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Copyright: Scottish Oral History Centre, University of Strathclyde

• English