A follow up edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ about the continued decline in the shipbuilding industry on both the Tyne and Wear. With the imminent loss of more than 2000 jobs at Swan Hunter is this the end of shipbuilding in the Northeast? Although refusing to participate in the programme, the actions of nationalised British Shipbuilders are discussed. Has the appointment of Graham Day as Chairman by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government shown...

A follow up edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ about the continued decline in the shipbuilding industry on both the Tyne and Wear. With the imminent loss of more than 2000 jobs at Swan Hunter is this the end of shipbuilding in the Northeast? Although refusing to participate in the programme, the actions of nationalised British Shipbuilders are discussed. Has the appointment of Graham Day as Chairman by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government shown that the government wants to end shipbuilding in the region? What can be done about foreign competition and what can be done to fill order books for yards such as Swan Hunters on the Tyne and Austin and Pickersgill on the Wear? Title: Tyne Tees Title: Briefing In the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle presenter Ian Breach introduces this edition of Briefing A filmed report looking back on 1984 follows, a year that has proven to be particularly bad for the shipbuilding industry beginning with a Northern Life news report on the closure of Clelands Shipbuilding Company at Wallsend that January. The container ship Atlantic Conveyor is launched from the nationalised British Shipbuilders yard of Swan Hunter’s at Wallsend on the 12th July 1984 by Ann Heseltine, wife of then Secretary of State for Defence Michael Heseltine. A montage of views showing the yard following the yard featuring empty slipways and large crane with Ian Breach explaining in voiceover its current plight with 2100 men being laid off in the new year with another 5000 at risk in 1985. A photograph of Norman Tebbit then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with Ian Breach explaining that Mr Tebbit had made the decision to put Swan Hunter up for sale and privatise the warship division, a decision that came as a shock and a surprise to many at the yard. Part of a statement given by Mr Tebbit to the company reads: Title: “I believe the management are of the view that Swan Hunter’s future would be best assured in warship building rather than as a mixed yard.” A photograph British Shipbuilders Chairman Graham Day who is said to have not been consulted by this move by Mr Tebbit and of the company’s former chairman Sir Robert Atkinson who has be critical of this decision by writing in a newspaper published in August stating its privatization plans were nothing more than: Title: “… an act of unforgivable political dogma,” In a subsequent article he expands on this by saying: Title: “I can’t speak for what Mr Day is doing, but the general impression seems to be that the industry is being scuttled but virtue of Government direction.” A clip from an earlier edition of Briefing dated 30th January 1984 in which Chris Finnerty National Negotiating Officer from the Engineers’ and Managers’ Association sums up the problems faced of those working in the industry. He states that the appointment of Graham Day by the government gave him a special degree to close certain companies such as Clelands and reduce capacity. No unions have been consults, he doesn’t know where the industry is going, and it is management by crisis. Returning to Ian Breach he explains that British Shipbuilders have refused several requests to appear in the programme or issued any statement with regards the issues being raised. Sitting next to Ian is Mike Lloyd who was until recently was head of International Affairs for British Shipbuilders. Ian asks the question what is happening at the company? Joining the discussion is Neville Trotter Conservative MP for Tynemouth who is asked what is to be done if we don’t want to see the end of shipbuilding in the Northeast? Sitting next to Neville is Don Dixon Labour MP for Jarrow who believes that international companies are breaking the rules with regards shipbuilding, he is asked by Ian are there any rules? Ian Breach brings this part of the discussion to a close explaining that in part two will look at the problems on Wearside which stands to run out shipbuilding work completely in the new year. Title: End of Part One Part Two Returning to Ian Breach he explains that Sunderland uses to be the shipbuilding capital of the world, but what’s left of its maritime industry is on the verge of collapse because of competition from the Far East as well as the indifference of both the government and British Shipbuilders. Gordon Wainwright, Chairman of both the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Tyne and Wear’s Economic Development Agency drives through Sunderland passing areas of dereliction and decline. As he drives through an estate past three-storey blocks of flats he explains the male unemployment rate in the area is over 50%. He says that both the decline in shipbuilding and mining as well as the general decline in engineering have reduced the number of opportunities for young people. A map of Sunderland show all the close shipyards and mines with question marks placed over the rest. As he drives past the yard of Austin and Pickersgill Gordon explains that all these closures have had a progressively devastating effect on the town. If the decline in the area continues, he fears Sunderland becoming a ghost town. The map of Sunderland featured above returns with the names and date of closure for some of the shipyards on the Wear. From a boat travelling along the Wear both the Wearmouth and Monkwearmouth Bridges in the distance and the cargo ship Colima moored along the quayside of the Deptford Yard of Sunderland Shipbuilders. As the boat passes the Colima and under the Wearmouth and Monkwearmouth Bridges Ian Breach explains that British ship owners have turned their backs on their own industry, while European companies place order in their own countries figures show under half the British merchant fleet is being built here. Figures appear on the screen to show this disparity. As the boat continues its journey upstream two older shipyard workers, Billy Quinn a Works Conveyor at British Shipbuilder (Engineering and Technical Services Ltd) (BS (ETS)) and John Spoors Regional Secretary of the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union (GMBATU) remember the river when it was busier and discuss how the lack of orders is affecting what is left of the industry on the river. As they ride past a montage of shipbuilding works taking place in some of the yards. The boat passed the covered slipway of Pallion Shipyard described by both Billy and John as being one of the most modern shipyard complexes in the world. A little further upstream the marine engine works of BS(ETS), formerly Doxfords. Over a montage of the factory Ian Breach gives a history of the company set up in 1982 by British Shipbuilders but is now to close. A worker at the company attempts to enter a building but finds it locked. Ian Breach explains it had been locked by the company to keep the Tyne Tees cameras out of a meeting with the workers to discuss the closure. From windows inside the building workers look out. A copy of ‘The UK Marine Engineering Audit’, a document that outlines the need for a British marine engine to be built at BS(ETS). A second document produced by BS(ETS) themselves outlining a strategy for survival entitled ‘A Plan to Secure the Future of BS(ETS Ltd’ dated September 1984. Gerry Barry, an organiser for the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW) believes it is a disgrace that British Shipbuilders are insisting that employees apply for voluntary redundancy or lose certain rights. He sees BS(ETS) as being a viable company and a blow to the Northeast that it is closing. One of the workers at BS(ETS) talks about his and his colleague’s reaction to the decision to close the company, a decision he saw as coming out of the blue. He believes British Shipbuilders Chairman Graham Day was employed by Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative government to break up companies such as BS(ETS) and isn’t interested in the engine division. Across the Wear from BS(ETS) is the yards of Austin and Pickersgill Ltd. From their boat Billy Quinn and John Spoors talk about the yards modern facilities and the fact that it will run out of orders by March 1985, onboard one ship under construction workers look down on boat passing. John Spoor explains that as well as those working at the yard its closure will have a knock-on effect to those companies that supply it. As the boat continues upstream a Cormorant takes off and a couple walk along a path through a field of cows. Gordon Wainwright explains the problem for Sunderland is that while older industries decline shedding hundreds if not thousands of workers, the new initiative are only generating employment for 10’s or 20’s and so more needs to be done. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Ian Breach leads a second discussion on the problems facing shipbuilding on the Wear with Professor Ray Thompson Head of Marine Engineering at Newcastle University, Tony Carter and Peter Callahan both Shop Stewards at Austin and Pickersgill and returning guests Neville Trotter, Mike Lloyd and Don Dixon. Ian Breach brings both the discussion and programme to a close providing detail of two up coming episodes beginning with a programme on a group of youngsters from Tyne and Wear who go outward bound in the Lake District and the second programme about the Manpower Services Commission asking is it achieving anything for young people. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Film Camera Dave Dixon Film Sound Bob Rhodes Film Editor Brian Sansom Research Ian Krause Political Editor John Sleight Director Robert Cowley Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIV