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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
James Moncur

Timex strike throwback in pictures on anniversary weekend of 'the UK's last major strike'

The strike at the Timex factory rocked Dundee in 1993.

This weekend sees the anniversary of the bitter action that began on 29th January.

It was the start of six-months of intense industrial unrest as hundreds of workers battled for their jobs.

Dundee Live has scoured the Daily Mirror photo archives for images from the time.

They give a graphic snapshot of life on the picket line and highlight just how bitter the strike got.

You can see the full set of behind-the-scenes photos in our album here.

It is important to put them in context.

By the 1980s the Timex Corporation had been a major employer in Dundee for forty years.

As competition grew from the Far East in particular, the company attempted to streamline their operations in the city.

Things picked up temporarily in the early 80s when the factory secured a contract to build the legendary ZX81 and ZX Spectrum computers for Clive Sinclair.

But once Sinclair was bought out by Amstrad, thinks started going downhill in Dundee.

Attempts to reduce wages and cut the size of the workforce were resisted by the trade unions until early January 1993 when there were proposed layoffs at the factory.

A ballot for strike action came out at 92% in favour, while requests for negotiation and arbitration were ignored.

On 29 January, the workers came out on strike.

Local political heavyweghts like George Galloway, Charlie Malone and Bill Jordan teamed up to do what they could to resolve things but their efforts were in vain.

Employees offered to return to work on 17 February but were told that there would be a cut of 10% across the board.

When they refused to accept those conditions, they were locked out and strikebreakers were recruited to replace the striking workers.

On 28 August 1993, the factory shut, following six months of bitter industrial unrest and battles on the picket lines.

The action has been described as the last major strike in the UK and has been the subject of a play and an exhibition at the University of Dundee.

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