Track Record
The Story of the Caterpillar Occupation
Published on 1. October 1988
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-86091-947-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides a unique inside view of the 103-day occupation against closure of Caterpillar's factory in Scotland starting in January 1987. The authors of Track Record were present during the occupation and documented the entire campaign in a 'fly-on-the-wall' fashion with the full permission and support of the Joint Occupation Committee.
Based on tape recordings made at the time and interviews with the major protagonists in this industrial drama, Track Record vividly recreates the atmosphere and tension, the conflicting emotions and hopes aroused by the occupation. The authors explain why this dispute had a massive impact on Scottish political life, helping to isolate Scottish Conservatives in the run-up to the 1987 election. Track Record also raises wider questions about the role of multinational companies and the scope for resistance to them.
Based on tape recordings made at the time and interviews with the major protagonists in this industrial drama, Track Record vividly recreates the atmosphere and tension, the conflicting emotions and hopes aroused by the occupation. The authors explain why this dispute had a massive impact on Scottish political life, helping to isolate Scottish Conservatives in the run-up to the 1987 election. Track Record also raises wider questions about the role of multinational companies and the scope for resistance to them.
Reviews / Votes
There are many lessons to be learned from Caterpillar. The most important is that it only became a major issue because the women and men who worked there decided to fight. The uncompromising stand of the workforce was a forceful reminder that if workers do riot fight for themselves, nobody else will. -- Campbell Christie, General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress Ordinary trade union members conceived and conducted the Caterpillar occupation based on the collective decisions of the shop floor. I hope that ordinary trade unionists throughout Britain and beyond will purchase and read Track Record. -- John Brannan, Convener of Shop Stewards, CaterpillarMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 220 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
372 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-86091-947-6 (9780860919476)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
10/1988
Verso Books
€57.14
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
John Foster is Professor of Applied Social Studies at Paisley College of Technology. He is the author of Class Struggle and the Industrial Revolution (1974), and of articles on the National Question, labour history and urban development.
Charles Woolfson is Lecturer in Sociology at the Department of Social and Economic Research, University of Glasgow. where he is Course Director of the Master's Degree in Industrial Relations. His previous work has included The Politics of the UCS Work-in (1986), which he co-authored with John Foster.
Charles Woolfson is Lecturer in Sociology at the Department of Social and Economic Research, University of Glasgow. where he is Course Director of the Master's Degree in Industrial Relations. His previous work has included The Politics of the UCS Work-in (1986), which he co-authored with John Foster.