At the turn of the 21st century. Local councils up and down the UK had to set aside money to settle historic Equal Pay claims.
Put simply. When the councils and trade union reps were discussing pay negotiations. They threw the female employees who would had been canteen staff, cleaners or care home workers under a metaphorical bus. The union reps were likely to be men and they got better pay deals for the male union members.
Leeds - United! written by Colin Welland is a docu-drama that shows that female workers did not fare any better in private industry.
Inspired by the true events of an unofficial strike amongst female textile workers in Leeds in February 1970. The women demanded the same pay as the men.
Mollie (Lynne Perrie) and Maggie (Elizabeth Spriggs) lead the women out on strike, they are followed by workers from other factories in Leeds.
Initially they are supported by a rabble rouser called Harry Gridley. Later Gridley in connivance with the trade union sell out the women. He is involved in clandestine negotiations with the factory owners to get the women back to work without their demands being met.
Filmed in stark black and white. There is a reportage documentary look about this drama. It is raw and earthy. There are voice overs as workers discuss their work conditions and low pay.
The big centrepiece of the drama is the women marching on strike which brings panic to the big bosses and the union reps.
Some of the performers were new to television although they would now be deemed to be familiar faces. Perrie went on to play Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street.
At almost two hours it is overlong with probably too many speeches being made. Director Roy Battersby added some touches of humour like an obese factory owner being carried off stage.
Writer Colin Welland highlighted just how little union bosses cared about the pay disparities with women workers.
Is it any different now almost 50 years after the event? Take a look at the current crop of white male beer sipping union bosses who want to go back to life as it was in 1970.
Women union members now fare better. Only because the unions have other minorities to throw under the bus.
Put simply. When the councils and trade union reps were discussing pay negotiations. They threw the female employees who would had been canteen staff, cleaners or care home workers under a metaphorical bus. The union reps were likely to be men and they got better pay deals for the male union members.
Leeds - United! written by Colin Welland is a docu-drama that shows that female workers did not fare any better in private industry.
Inspired by the true events of an unofficial strike amongst female textile workers in Leeds in February 1970. The women demanded the same pay as the men.
Mollie (Lynne Perrie) and Maggie (Elizabeth Spriggs) lead the women out on strike, they are followed by workers from other factories in Leeds.
Initially they are supported by a rabble rouser called Harry Gridley. Later Gridley in connivance with the trade union sell out the women. He is involved in clandestine negotiations with the factory owners to get the women back to work without their demands being met.
Filmed in stark black and white. There is a reportage documentary look about this drama. It is raw and earthy. There are voice overs as workers discuss their work conditions and low pay.
The big centrepiece of the drama is the women marching on strike which brings panic to the big bosses and the union reps.
Some of the performers were new to television although they would now be deemed to be familiar faces. Perrie went on to play Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street.
At almost two hours it is overlong with probably too many speeches being made. Director Roy Battersby added some touches of humour like an obese factory owner being carried off stage.
Writer Colin Welland highlighted just how little union bosses cared about the pay disparities with women workers.
Is it any different now almost 50 years after the event? Take a look at the current crop of white male beer sipping union bosses who want to go back to life as it was in 1970.
Women union members now fare better. Only because the unions have other minorities to throw under the bus.