HUNDREDS of factories and shipyards across Britain were brought to a standstill on Wednesday, December 2, 1953, when some two million workers staged a token strike.

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions had called for the one-day strike in protest against the refusal of employers to grant a 15 per cent increase in wages. Union leaders were said to have been startled by the scale of the nationwide response.

On Clydeside and the west of Scotland, more than 100,000 engineers and shipyard workers, along with members of other trades dependent on them, were affected by what was called the “big stay-out”.

In some Clyde shipyards, the only workers present for the morning shift were apprentices and labourers. Of 27,000 workers in the yards, a mere 3,000 were at work. At Rolls Royce in Hillington, almost all the production workers were absent, while the J. and G .Weir factory in Cathcart was said to be “practically empty”.

The demands for a pay rise were made clear on the placards as marchers prepared to head for a rally on Glasgow Green. Thousands had been expected at the Green, reported the Evening Times, but incessant rain cut the attendance to around one thousand.

Union leaders spoke of the need for a 15 per cent wage increase to cover the cost of living and said that, despite the low turn-out, the strike response in Scotland had been “magnificent”.

“The drenched demonstrators stood apathetically,” the paper said, “while speakers put the case for a wage increase. The noisiest demonstration greeted one comment deploring the attitude of union officials. ‘Employers are being encouraged by splits in our ranks’, said the spokesman, amid loud applause”.

Read more: Herald Diary