Interview with Frank Rooney

Recording of Frank Rooney, a shipbuilding worker, in conversation with Rory Stride in 2016. He worked in Govan’s shipbuilding industry from 1975 and in various countries across Europe from 1997.
[00:00:01] Introductions
[00:00:29] Talks about childhood and family life
[00:01:23] Talks about Govan in the 1970s, his time at school
[00:02:40] Talks about working life, time in different departments at the shipyard, time at different shipyards across the country
[00:07:30] Talks about time working across Europe in the shipbuilding industry from 1997
[00:08:20] Talks about trade unions in Govan and boilermakers' union
[00:09:40] Talks about staff conflict and staff training
[0:13:45] Talks about trade unions, staff camaraderie
[00:16:00] Discussion about public attitudes towards trade unions, decline in membership from the 1990s
[00:18:00] Talks about strikes in the 1970s and 1980s, pressure on workers and families,
[00:20:00] Talks about Labour and socialist politics, local political campaigns in the 1970s and 1980s, ‘soapbox’ politics, Scottish National Party’s political power in the 1980s
[00:27:50] Discussion about 1970s to early 2000s working class attitudes towards Labour
[00:30:35] Talks about traits of masculinity in Govan’s shipyards, staff camaraderie and friendships
[00:38:40] Talks about unemployment in Govan, redundancy in shipyards, impact of redundancy on workers
[00:41:26] Talks about social activities in Govan, alcohol, changes in Govan from the 1970s to 2000s, football
[00:52:10] Discussion about the closure of shipbuilding in Govan and the impact on the area
[00:56:50] Talks about redundancy in c.1982 and the impact on individual workers
[00:59:29] Talks about Govan from 1990 to 1995, social activities for young people
[01:04:09] Summarises final thoughts on Govan
[01:09:00] Interview concludes

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Copyright: Scottish Oral History Centre, University of Strathclyde

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