“’PRESENT outlook still uncertain, with a general tendency to set fair.” That, in the language of the weather experts, pretty accurately sums up the strike situation at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow.’ Thus the Glasgow Herald of March 7,1938, on a dispute that had affected construction work on the ambitious, soon-to-open exhibition at Bellahouston Park.

Some 2000 tradesmen had been on strike for a week in an unofficial dispute. Joiners had downed tools to enforce a demand for an advance in wages - some of the joiners are shown above - and other trades either followed suit or came out in sympathy. The dispute was said to have resulted in some £6,000 being lost in wages.

On March 8, the Herald reported that the strike was over and that the men had “recommenced their duties. With this general resumption of work, the augmentation of the workmen by nearly 1,000 within the next fortnight, and the introduction of longer working hours made possible by increased daylight, it is now confidently expected that the buildings in the Exhibition will be completed before May 3, the day on which it is to be opened by the King.”

Notwithstanding the dispute, building work on most key buildings remained ahead of schedule. The Palace of Engineering and the two Palaces of Industry were almost complete, and more than half of the 10 miles of road had been laid with red and white asphalt.