Timex (George Mason) Collection

This material is held atUniversity of Dundee Archive Services

  • Reference
    • GB 254 MS 272
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1983 - 2006
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 1 linear metre and 2 boxes

Scope and Content

Material relating to the Timex dispute and the personal experience of George Mason an employee during this period, includes newspaper articles and cuttings (1983-1995), general and personal correspondence (1983-1993), images, paintings and printed items (1993),ephemera and audio-visual (1993) and material used in the Timex exhibition (1993-2006)

Administrative / Biographical History

George Mason was an employee of Timex Electronics group, employed in their manufacturing plant in Dundee during the Timex dispute. The Timex corporation had been a major employer within the city for a number of decades when, in the early 1980s, citing difficulties with competing with cheaper workforces and production costs in the Far East, the company attempted to streamline the plant. This streamlining took the form of attempting to cut wages and employee numbers, which led to a dispute with the workers and their Union. This dispute resulted in mass demonstrations, picket lines, clashes with police, a large number of redundancies, and the bringing in of replacement workers to take the place of those sacked and picketing, before ultimately resulting in the closure of the plant and Timex withdrawing from Dundee in 1993. During this time period George Mason was an active member of the union, and had his employment terminated for taking part in the picketing.
George Mason is currently (2006) a janitor at the University of Dundee.

Arrangement

Usually chronological within series.

Access Information

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by George Mason.

Note

George Mason was an employee of Timex Electronics group, employed in their manufacturing plant in Dundee during the Timex dispute. The Timex corporation had been a major employer within the city for a number of decades when, in the early 1980s, citing difficulties with competing with cheaper workforces and production costs in the Far East, the company attempted to streamline the plant. This streamlining took the form of attempting to cut wages and employee numbers, which led to a dispute with the workers and their Union. This dispute resulted in mass demonstrations, picket lines, clashes with police, a large number of redundancies, and the bringing in of replacement workers to take the place of those sacked and picketing, before ultimately resulting in the closure of the plant and Timex withdrawing from Dundee in 1993. During this time period George Mason was an active member of the union, and had his employment terminated for taking part in the picketing.
George Mason is currently (2006) a janitor at the University of Dundee.

Other Finding Aids

Descriptive list. Subject source lists and databases are also available.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Made up mainly of paper but also includes paintings, textile, and audio-visual items

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by Jaqui Adams November 2008.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Custodial History

Records belonged to George Mason. Donated to the University of Dundee for the exhibition, "Timex: History of Struggle", held in the University's Lamb Gallery in March 2006

Accruals

Not expected

Location of Originals

The material is a mixture of original and photocopies.

Additional Information

Published

Catalogued

MS 272