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Memories and Nostalgia

Coventry Apprentices Strike

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bohica
coventry
1 of 6  Tue 10th Nov 2020 12:53am  

I came across reference to this strike yesterday but with very little detail other than it possibly started at AWA Baginton and spread very rapidly. I'm guessing from the reference that it was in the inter-war years but I don't know this for sure. Deep in the recesses of my mind, I seem to remember a college lecturer referring to it in the early 70s warning us to not get involved in the general unrest of the day. IIRC, he said that as the apprentices were walking out the gate their 'cards' were being made up for them. Can anyone shed any light on this at all, or point me in the right direction for research? TIA
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike
mcsporran
Coventry & Cebu
2 of 6  Tue 10th Nov 2020 1:18am  

This document may explain.
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike
bohica
coventry
Thread starter
3 of 6  Tue 10th Nov 2020 2:24pm  

Thank you, mcsporran Thumbs up
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike
Mr Blue Sky
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
4 of 6  Tue 10th Nov 2020 11:12pm  

I was in the Coventry Apprentices Strike in 1960 and was carrying a placard with 'WE'RE NOT MONKEYS, WHY PAY US PEANUTS?'. Walking down Corporation Street, some old ladies waiting for a bus shouted at us "Get back to work", which made us laugh.
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike
bohica
coventry
Thread starter
5 of 6  Wed 11th Nov 2020 1:48am  

Thank you, Mr Blue Sky. Thumbs up Can you tell me any more about it? What are your recollections of the time?
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike
Mr Blue Sky
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
6 of 6  Wed 11th Nov 2020 11:51pm  

The apprentices and trainees alike were cheap labour and in most cases were paid a fraction of a person over 21 years old for doing the same job. I started work at 8.00am and left at 6.00pm, and if you were 4 minutes late clocking in you were docked 15 minutes pay, also the same at lunchtime. Unlike today, if you didn't turn up, no pay. Strikes at one factory would affect other factories in the car industry as they supplied parts to each other and most strikes were unofficial, otherwise the union would have to pay strike pay. My father worked at the Standard at Canley for over twenty years as an auto electrician and he was always being off work due to strikes at various suppliers.
Memories and Nostalgia - Coventry Apprentices Strike

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