1993 Dundee Timex Strike

1993 industrial dispute July 2026 Timex strike 29 January – 28 August 1993 Dundee, Scotland *Cut in pay Layoffs of some workers *Prevent workers from being laid off Demands for better pay *Strike action Mass picketing *Peter Hall's resignation as company president Closure of Timex factory in Dundee after 47 years Workers of Timex factory made unemployed *Timex Corporation *Striking workers Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union Scottish Trade Union Congress Other protestors *Peter Hall John Dryfe Mohammed Saleh *Gavin Laird Jimmy Airlie Harry McLevy Charlie Malone John Kydd *~340 sacked striking workers ~3,000 protesters None Various 38 The 1993 Dundee Timex strike was a major industrial dispute which took place in Dundee, Scotland, in 1993. The dispute, which was notable for its level of picket-line violence and the involvement of women, ended with the closure of the Timex plant in the city after 47 years. It is considered by historians to be the last of the large industrial disputes of late 20th century Britain.Nicholson Susan 2023-01-26 'Pushed aside as our jobs were taken' - 30 years since Timex strike https://news.stv.tv/north/scotland-tonight-timex-dundee-strike-recalled-by-sacked-workers-30-years-on 2023-02-04 STV News en-GBMS 272 Timex (George Mason) Collection https://archives.dundee.ac.uk/ms-272 Archive Services Online Catalogue University of Dundee 15 May 2016Timex closes Dundee factory: Company leaves city after bitter dispute https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/timex-closes-dundee-factory-company-leaves-city-after-bitter-dispute-1464205.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/timex-closes-dundee-factory-company-leaves-city-after-bitter-dispute-1464205.html 21 June 2022 subscription live 6 April 2012 The Independent 30 August 1993Wright Valerie Phillips Jim Tomlinson Jim 2021-04-01 Defending the right to work: the 1983 Timex workers' occupation in Dundee https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/240865/ Labour History Review en 86 1 63–90 10.3828/lhr.2021.4 234811788 0961-5652 Background The Timex Corporation established itself as a major employer in Dundee after World War II due to generous incentives by Dundee City Council, including the sale of publicly owned land to the corporation for £57,000.BBC Scotland - The Rise and Fall of Timex Dundee https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009dnw 2022-04-15 BBC en-GB It set up at two campuses in the city: one at Milton and another at Camperdown. These two facilities were divided along gender lines and specialty. The Milton plant was 60 per cent male and predominantly produced tools and components. Camperdown however was 80 per cent female and did the assembly work. In 1966, Timex was the third largest single employer in Dundee, and the single largest employer of women.Tomlinson Jim Phillips Jim Wright Valerie 2022 De-industrialization: a case study of Dundee, 1951-2001, and its broad implications http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/198886/ Business History en 64 1 28–54 10.1080/00076791.2019.1676235 211341101 0007-6791 It peaked at 6,000 total workers in 1974, which made it one of the city's largest employers and gave it a unique place in the culture of Dundee.Remembering the Timex factory dispute https://www.scotsman.com/news/remembering-timex-factory-dispute-2470079 2022-04-16 www.scotsman.com 19 January 2013 en In 1982, the Camperdown factory manufactured a record number of watches, totaling 2.5 million units. Dundee's other large employer of women in the mid to late 20th century was the jute industry. However, Timex's assembly line paid significantly better, making it a more attractive option for many young women. Additionally, as jute manufacturing contracted in the city in the 1950s and 1960s, Timex absorbed much of the skilled workforce. These jobs offered better pay and conditions (for the men they doubled their earnings). 1983 Strike and Milton Closure With the introduction of the digital watch, demand for mechanical watches like the ones produced at Timex in Dundee collapsed. Timex management took the decision to diversify their manufacturing in Dundee, beginning in the early 1970s with contracts to produce Polaroid and Nimslo 3-D cameras. These contracts primarily relied on the female assembly worker who could pivot easily from assembling delicate mechanical components to delicate electronic components. Initially, the mostly male workers at Milton were in support of the new shift towards electronics as it was done in consultation with the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU). The manufacture of the Nimslo 3-D was developed using public–private partnership money and the skills of the union engineers at Timex Dundee. By 1982, the workforce had reduced to 4,200, mostly through normal wastage and staff turnover. However, in 1981 or 1982 a new director of manufacturing who had previously managed electronics factories in Pinochet's Chile, changed the relationship between the unionised workforce and management. The mostly male workers at the Milton plant became superfluous to this type of manufacture in Dundee as they produced watch components to be assembled at Camperdown. The facility had enjoyed a temporary reprieve in the early part of the decade due to Timex's contract with Sinclair Research to manufacture its personal computer products (principally the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum), which sold in huge numbers. However, Sinclair's computer business was bought out in 1986 by Amstrad, who ended the lucrative contract, and once again the factory fell upon bad times. This ultimately led to attempts to reduce wages and cut the size of the workforce. These attempts were resisted by the workers and their trade union.Wright Valerie Philips Jim Tomlinson Jim 2021-01-04 Defending the Right to Work: The 1983 Timex Workers' Occupation in Dundee http://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/lhr.2021.4 Labour History Review en 86 1 63–90 10.3828/lhr.2021.4 234811788 0961-5652 subscription Sequence of events Lay-offs On Christmas Eve 1992,1993-03-27 Timex president's firms went bust owing pounds 718,000: Company chief https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/timex-president-s-firms-went-bust-owing-pounds-718-000-company-chief-who-locked-out-workers-was-barred-from-own-factory-1500072.html 2023-02-04 The Independent en Timex workers were informed by company management of plans to temporarily lay-off 150 employees, around half the workforce at the time,McFarlane Jim 2023-01-29 Timex 30th anniversary: When workers fought the bosses to a standstill https://socialistpartyscotland.org.uk/2023/01/29/timex-30th-anniversary-when-workers-fought-the-bosses-to-a-standstill/ 2023-02-04 Socialist Party Scotland en-US1993-02-19 The Jobless Crisis: Sacked staff in protest at Timex plant https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-jobless-crisis-sacked-staff-in-protest-at-timex-plant-1473826.html 2023-02-04 The Independent en due to poor business performance.1993-07-19 Despite Closure Threat, Timex Dispute Keeps On Ticking https://apnews.com/article/1fa886962a158fc9f42dac63c41ba117 2023-02-04 AP NEWS en The Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU), acknowledged the business case for making lay-offs, but argued that the impact could be spread more equitably amongst the workforce. The AEEU suggested that the lay-offs should be distributed in such a way that affected workers could work a rota of alternating weeks so that no worker lost all of their income, whilst also reducing labour costs for the business. Timex management, led by Peter Hall, rejected these proposals and refused to negotiate. Some shop stewards from the AEEU alleged that the lay-offs were targeted towards workers who were affiliated with the AEEU. Strike action On the recommendation of the shop stewards, a vote for strike action by a raise of hands, was held in the staff canteenGates Philip 2018-04-19 History of Timex https://www.insider.co.uk/special-reports/history-of-timex-12391810 2023-02-04 businessInsider en resulting in 92% of votes cast in favour. On 29 January the strike began, lasting 3 weeks. Timex immediately went to the Court of Session and had an interdict issued to the AEEU picketers forbidding anymore than 6 striking workers on the picket line, however AEEU organisers subverted this interdict by calling daily "mass meetings" outside the factory. On 5 February, Timex issued letters to all striking employees informing them of changes to the terms and conditions the company was prepared to offer employees and stated that unless they contacted the company to accept these terms and return to work their employment would be terminated. These changes agreed to earlier AEEU proposals for an alternating rota of lay-offs but now included a 10% pay cut, cuts to pension contributions and savings schemes, reduced canteen subsidies and changes to working patterns. Factory lock-out On the 17 February, striking employees offered to return to work with the hopes of re-commencing negotiations with company management, however as the striking workers and the AEEU had refused to accept the terms of the letter, the company decided to sack them. When the workers showed up to commence their shift they discovered they had been locked out of the factory.1993-04-13 Thousands back sacked Timex workers https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12573243.thousands-back-sacked-timex-workers/ 2023-02-04 HeraldScotland en Officers from Tayside Police were stationed outside the factory gates and refused to let the workers who had gone on strike into the workplace. When police officers forcibly pushed the sacked workers away from the factory gates many resisted leading to the first of a series of violent confrontations between those on the picket line and the police force. Use of strikebreakers Replacement workers were brought in daily on Moffat and Williamson buses to break the picket line and replace the striking workersPaul Foot: Seize the time (1993) https://www.marxists.org/archive/foot-paul/1993/06/timex.htm 2023-02-06 www.marxists.org which was a major cause of anger and led to several confrontations between sacked workers and strikebreakers protected by police officers. 2018-02-02 Timex: Remembering historic factory strike 25 years on https://archive.news.stv.tv/archive/1407522-timex-remembering-historic-factory-strike-25-years-on.html 2023-02-04 STV News en Picketers tried to stop the buses making their way up the hill, known locally as "Timex Brae", by lying across the road or clinging on to the buses themselves, but were forcibly removed by police officers. These replacement workers were often recruited from the unemployed population at job centresMoncur James 2013-02-02 Bosses broke the strike but they couldn't break the spirit of Timex women.. Their fight remains an inspiration to this day https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-record/20130202/282406986731579 2023-02-05 PressReader Daily Record and adverts in local newspapers and were paid less than the sacked workers they replaced. Strikebreakers tried to hide their identity from the picketers and media by covering their faces, and received threats of violence, verbal abuse and were pejoratively referred to as "scabs". Those who were identified were subject to intimidation, vandalism, and social ostracisation, in some cases this continued for decades after the dispute. On the 31 March, senior Timex executives, John Dryfe and Mohammed Saleh, visited the Camperdown factory to assess the ability of replacement workers to keep up with production quotas.1993-04-01 Mass sacking firm in talks: Timex executives visit besieged plant https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mass-sacking-firm-in-talks-timex-executives-visit-besieged-plant-1452765.html 2023-02-06 The Independent en The day before, they had attended a private meeting in a London hotel with Peter Hall, the Lord Provost of Dundee, the convenor of Tayside Regional Council, and the Labour MP for Dundee West. Fred Olsen, the Norwegian business owner did not attend. Although none of the attendees would say what was discussed during the meeting, there is speculation that they considered softening their anti-union stance after initially attempting to bring practices in-line with Timex's labour relations policy in the United States. Despite these speculations, no attempt to end the practice of strikebreaking was ever adopted by the corporation. Support for the strike grows Support for the strike grew throughout Dundee and across Scotland and the United Kingdom, with organisations like the Timex Support Group was established to provide financial, moral and organisational support to the sacked workers. They were responsible for raising funds through donations to support those who had lost their income because of the dispute. Sacked Timex workers spoke at May Day marches and rallies across Scotland that year to raise awareness and funds for striking sacked workers. Peter Hall resigns In June 1993, John Dryfe, US-based president of the parent company, the Timex Group, announced that Timex president, Peter Hall, had resigned.1993-06-15 Union fears Timex fate sealed: Dundee factory chief's resignation fails to settle the dispute https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12743670.union-fears-timex-fate-sealed-dundee-factory-chiefs-resignation-fails-to-settle-the-dispute/ 2023-02-05 HeraldScotland en The resignation was initially met with celebration from the striking workers as it was one of their key demands to ending their dispute. Despite this, the AEEU said they were not confident that Hall's resignation would secure the future of the factory or its Dundee workforce. Hall maintained that he made the decision to resign, but there was widespread speculation that he was pushed from his role by senior management and possibly used as a scapegoat for company mismanagement, although Hall refused to comment on this. Factory closure On the evening of the 14 June 1993 AEEU negotiators revealed that they believed Timex were committed to closing the Camperdown factory by Christmas 1993. This was later confirmed by Timex vice-president Mohammed Saleh shortly after a "final offer" was rejected by AEEU negotiators, who said the company's proposals would mean a 27% pay cut and a two-year wage freeze without a guarantee for a secure future for the factory.1993-06-15 Timex closes Dundee plant https://www.independent.co.uk/news/timex-closes-dundee-plant-1491861.html 2023-02-06 The Independent en The Scottish Trade Union Congress, Scottish National Party (SNP) and Labour Party criticised the company's inflexibility in negotiations. On the 13 July an early day motion was submitted to the House of Commons with the support of 55 Labour MPs and one SNP MP which condemned the Timex Corporation and supported a worldwide boycott of its products.1993-07-13 EDM 2310: BOYCOTT OF TIMEX PRODUCTS https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/5338/boycott-of-timex-products 2023-02-06 UK Parliament en-UK After removing all contents from the factory sooner than expected, the factory shut at 6pm on 28 August 1993 following six months of industrial unrest. Timex offered to bring in the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to discuss the possibility of compensation for sacked employees. The General Secretary of the AEEU described the factory closure as: "a great tragedy for Dundee and for Scotland, and indeed for the UK". Legacy In 1971, 42 per cent of people in employment in Dundee were employed in manufacturing. By 2001, that number was 15.2 per cent. The manufacturing sector in Dundee never recovered from the loss of the jobs at Milton and then the jobs at Camperdown. Many people involved with the 1993 strike struggled to find work afterwards. Although the 1983 strike and subsequent job losses had a bigger impact on employment in the city, the 1993 strike is the one that has entered popular memory. The strike has been the subject of a play[Theatre to perform Timex strike play http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/08/25/newsstory10183829t0.asp The Courier: Taking you to the heart of Tayside and Fife 2007-09-05 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185532/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/08/25/newsstory10183829t0.asp 27 September 2007 dmy-all ] and an exhibition at the University of Dundee."Timex: History of Struggle" - exhibition opening https://app.dundee.ac.uk/pressreleases/2006/prmar06/timex.html 2023-02-06 app.dundee.ac.uk 8 March 2006 University of Dundee A collection of records relating to the strike is held by the university's Archive Services. A multimedia project called Generation ZX(X) was organised by Abertay University to mark the 25th anniversary of the strike.2018-04-18 Art tribute to workers 25 years after Timex strikes https://www.thenational.scot/news/16172003.art-tribute-workers-25-years-timex-strikes/ 2023-02-06 The National en2018-05-04 Paint It Loud and Clear: Sign Making Workshop https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/event/25176 2023-02-06 www.leisureandculturedundee.com English A documentary titled The Rise and Fall of Timex Dundee, directed by Andy Twaddle,Lewis Andrew Male and Trevor 2019-10-26 The best TV and films on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and other on‑demand services, October 27 en The Times https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-best-tv-and-films-on-netflix-amazon-prime-bbc-iplayer-and-other-on-demand-services-october-27-dtdrhmv0k subscription 2023-02-04 0140-0460 aired on BBC Scotland on 15 October 2019, as part of their People Power short series. The steep road that climbs from Camperdown Park along Faraday Street and Harrison Road to the site of the former Timex factory is still known colloquially as "Timex Brae" by many Dundonians. It is possible to draw a through line from the presence of Timex in the city, especially its manufacture of early personal computers, to modern Dundee's video game industry, which has produced games such as Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.2015-02-12 The Making of Lemmings https://readonlymemory.vg/the-making-of-lemmings/ 2022-04-16 Read-Only Memory en-US 29 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150729054925/http://readonlymemory.vg/the-making-of-lemmings dead Lukowski Andrzej 2022-02-17 'The sprites clearly do not look like actual lemmings': the inside story of an iconic video game https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/feb/17/the-sprites-clearly-do-not-look-like-actual-lemmings-the-inside-story-of-an-iconic-video-game 2022-04-16 the Guardian en References Further reading Knox Bill https://academic.oup.com/edinburgh-scholarship-online/book/22002/chapter-abstract/182063093?redirectedFrom=fulltext Jute No More: Transforming Dundee McKinlay Alan Edinburgh University Press 2011 9781474406031 Tomlinson Jim en-UK The Union Makes us Strong? Work and Trade Unionism in Timex, 1946‒83 Whatley Christopher A. Category:1993 labor disputes and strikes Category:1993 in politics Category:1993 in Scotland Category:Labour disputes in Scotland Category:Protests in Scotland Category:Timex Group Category:Politics of Dundee Category:Economy of Dundee Category:Manufacturing industry strikes Category:1990s in Dundee Category:History of women in Scotland