Interview with Jim Bermingham

• Reference:GB 249 SOHC 33/5
• Dates of Creation:5 October 2016
• Language of Material:English
• Physical Description:
  1 digital audio file (duration 43 minutes 47 seconds), 1 transcript

• Scope and Content

  Recording and transcript of Jim Bermingham in conversation with Rory Stride in 2016. Bermingham worked at Fairfield’s in Govan as a joiner from 1976 to 1979.
  [00:00:02] Introductions
  [00:00:15] Talks about childhood
  [00:01:52] Talks about his early career and staff training
  [00:05:35] Talks about Govan in the 1970s
  [00:07:31] Talks about skills needed to be a joiner and tasks completed
  [00:11:15] Talks about staff camaraderie
  [00:13:88] Talks about role at MI Technologies training
  [00:15:28] Talks about traits of masculinity in Govan’s shipyards
  [00:17:17] Talks about health and safety at the yard and staff injuries
  [00:19:45] Talks about job security and redundancy, union's reaction to redundancy
  [00:24:20] Talks about trade unions in shipbuilding, the Union of Construction of Allied Trades and Technicians, strike action, union health and safety claims, impact of strike action on workers and union meetings
  [00:31:00] Discussion about public attitudes towards trade unions, decline in membership from the 1990s
  [00:32:13] Talks about shipyards' attitudes towards Labour
  [00:34:48] Talks about staff camaraderie, friendships and alcohol during work
  [00:36:26] Talks about moving for work and items bought with wages
  [00:38:45] Talks about staff connections and reunions
  [00:40:45] Discussion about the closure of shipbuilding in Govan and the impact on the area
  [00:43:29] Interview concludes

• Access Information

  No access restrictions.

• Conditions Governing Use

  Copyright: Scottish Oral History Centre, University of Strathclyde

• Additional Information

  published