File 7 - Interview with Margaret Cullen, factory worker

1 digital audio file (duration 13 minutes 58 seconds), 1 Word file

Recording and transcript of Rebekah Russell in conversation with Margaret Cullen on 8 October 2014. Margaret Cullen was born 22/09/35 in Springburn and has lived all of her life in Wellfield Street, Springburn. She worked in a factory then moved on to work in Galls and worked full time throughout her life. Her husband worked for the co-op iron mongers and was made redundant for 2 years.

Time-coded summary:

[00:00:00] Introductions. Informs was born, brought up and married in Springburn and has lived there all of life.
[00:00:35] Tells that first job upon leaving school aged 15 was in Drapery Department of Cowlairs Co-operative in Springburn.
[00:01:05] Informs was married in 1956, with first child 1957, second 1958. Describes raising family with childcare support of mother. Husband not well paid so worked part-time first then full-time in various jobs: biscuit factory, Galls clothes shop, auxiliary in schools - during period 1960-1990.
[00:02:08] Describes routine of working in biscuit factory.
[00:02:34] Tells of working for Galls clothes shop first Dumbarton Road, then in Springburn where were in charge, then as school auxiliary until retirement.
[00:03:14] Comments on weekly wages received in Galls Clothing and as school auxiliary, and upon house move from Springburn to Barmulloch.
[00:03:49] Remarks that there was not much change in their own working condition in the Co-operative when factories in Springburn closed down, but visible change to area due to job losses.
[00:04:41] Informs husband lost job as Co-operative Ironmonger around this time, being unemployed for around 2 years before gaining re-employment as bus conductor and driver.
[00:05:19] Recounts financial impact of unemployment and reliance upon family allowance.
[00:05:41] Describes that during two years husband was unemployed she went out to work whilst he stayed home taking care of children and looking for work. Mentions childcare support of mother.
[00:06:02] Describes impact upon family of loss of husband’s income and sacrifices made as parents on behalf of the children.
[00:06:44] Informs that both she and husband in good health throughout this period. However, husband experienced health issues later due to smoking.
[00:07:01] Describes difficulties faced by husband in finding re-employment during this period.
[00:07:31] Tells that she regrets having to work when she became a mother due to time lost with their children.
[00:08:06] Explains worked full-time from financial necessity to raise family.
[00:08:30] Describes feeling regretful at time that were missing out on family’s childhood due to being a working mother.
[00:08:51] Explains reasons for working full-time when had children were purely financial.
[00:09:05] Describes necessity of returning to work after birth of each of her children.
[00:09:40] Comments that neither her nor husband’s attitudes to work changed with factory closures or loss of husband’s job.
[00:10:26] Explains that during period of factory closures there was not the community facilities in Springburn [such as the Alive & Kicking Project] which they have now, so opportunities to socialise were limited, with social focus, as working mum, on your children, friends and neighbours.
[00:11:40] Remarks that factory closures and job losses did not personally affect them other than at time of husband’s unemployment, as they were employed and had additional support of parents.
[00:12:24] Describes domestic privations of life in Springburn during period from 1960s on when did not have a bath or washing machine in house and women did washing in the 'steamies' [wash houses] on days off.

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• English

1 digital audio file (mp3), 1 digital text file of transcript (MS Word document)