| Description | Track 1 [00:13:02] [Session one: 26 November 2013] Arthur Bamford [AB], born Cwmavon [Port Talbot, Wales], October 1953. AB briefly tells of his parents’ home towns – mother, Cwman (sp?), father Cwmavon, and their employment. AB mentions his schools in Cwmavon (infant and Junior), and Dyffryn Comprehensive; remarks he hated school and was bullied.[00:01:24] AB describes his work on leaving school, first as an office boy for a contractor at Port Talbot Steelworks, then as an apprentice carpenter and joiner for 4 years from aged 16. AB explains how the apprenticeship worked with Potters & Son, followed by a job with contractors EJ Hills [possibly? Hales] in Neath; tells of the long hours and the type of works the contractors did. AB explains circumstances of leaving the carpentry business after 7 months, for a job in at the blastfurnaces in the steelworks, Port Talbot - talks of security of a pension and the long term position; comments on amount of work available at the time compared to current day. AB describes working for the Steel Company of Wales, comments they were vastly over staffed; AB describes being part of a huge group of men, the dangerous environment and ‘hard’ men of the blast furnaces, likens it to ‘stepping into hell’, with ‘men of iron’ – tells anecdotes from his ‘harrowing’ first day at 21 years old; remembers being told that the two things a blast furnace makes are ‘money and widows’. AB explains how men coped with it emotionally and physically – fun and hard work. AB remembers early 1980’s, after the long strike - manpower was cut, accidents increased, and company attempts to improve Health and Safety [H&S] - lists H&S equipment and the men’s resistance and attitude to it, tells funny anecdotes to illustrate. Describes how the industry had changed, but practises hadn’t developed and there were less workers under more pressure, gives illustration of the hours worked how it affected men physically. Interview stopped [00:13:02] Interview resumed [00:13:07] AB confirms starting work at the blast furnaces in 1974 - describes the day to day work as part of the labour gang. AB explains the danger of carbon monoxide gas, the biggest killer on any blastfurnace and his ‘biggest fear’, mentions 3 men died in his first year and tells story of what happened when two men were affected; mentions a dust catcher; compares the current use of gas alarms/monitors to in the 1970’s-1980’s. AB confirms he wasn’t trained for the job. AB remembers that Catholics were given preferential treatment, tells anecdotes and gives examples; remarks on staff attitude to this and suggests reasons for it happening, comments older people may know where it all started. AB explains job of recorder boy and how it was a way onto the blastfurnaces for boys at 16. [00:20:49] AB says he worked in the ‘labour gang’, explains reasons for looking for opportunities to keep him from eventually becoming a blastfurnaceman; describes the process of getting a permanent job as a ‘gas man’ (stoves minder) – 1982 – briefly explains job, change in wages, responsibility and environment (control room), remarks he eventually became a unit trainer. [00:24:14] AB describes the mens working practise on shifts, recites the blastfurnace adage which got everyone through; tells story regarding John Ford, nicknamed iron man, who ran to work and back from Maesteg every day. AB describes work expectations on the men (days and nights), and explains shift patterns; mentions discipline for those caught going home on a night shift; tells his thoughts on and experience of working shifts. [00:29:07] AB remarks briefly on overmanning in the steelworks, including canteens. AB tells stories regarding thefts of food from the canteens by workers, comments that ‘anything went on the blastfurnaces, anything at all!’ AB confirms that there were other regular instances of petty theft, and there wasn’t anything management could do about it. AB tells story involving ‘grub chits’ (free canteen food allowance when asked to work overtime on a shift). [00:33:41] AB comments that the biggest change during his time at the steelworks was the cut in workforce after ‘the strike’ – led to H&S changes - talks about equipment especially problems of keeping hearing safe. AB remarks on the key importance of production, sometimes compromising safety on the blastfurnaces, describes the influence of top management in this – mentions the ‘feathers’ of steam indicating a blast furnace shut down. AB talks about the pressure of cuts affecting manpower, wages, bonus schemes and especially worries about job security after the strike. Remarks unions in the 1970’s were far too strong, and gives brief opinion on unions in the blast furnaces. AB talks about extreme high temperatures in the blast furnaces, and how management tried to compensate. AB comments that the work on blastfurnaces affected mens health – reiterates comment from a worker about no one living long enough to get a pension [section closed 00:38:54-00:38:57, 00:41:40-00:44:19]. AB remarks joking was how they survived in the job, but that men also worked very hard. [section closed 00:44:42-00:45:44] AB explains why he started working at the steelworks after getting married, remarks his wife was working at the time. AB describes growing up in Cwmavon, tells story involving Britton Ferry Scrap Yard and WW2 scrap for the steelworks. AB remembers the steelworks as the main employer in the area, and explains how everyone was connected to it in some way. AB describes the nature of socialising with work colleagues. Mentions the strong male culture, but also the presence of tough women, different to any he had ever encountered. AB comments on why men and women were tough; relates it to the danger and fear surrounding the work, describes two horrific tragic incidences (circa 1980’s). [00:51:52] AB describes being a member of the National Union of Blastfurnacemen (NUB); explains and comments on how seniority governed job progression, and how this changed. AB briefly describes his view on being in the Union, mentions the 1980’s strike and why during it, he chose to seek work as a carpenter for a time. AB further comments on the 1980’s strike, mentions H&S and the company saving money in ways ‘we shouldn’t have done’. AB gives his opinion on why strikes are never successful. AB describes and comments on minor disputes, mentions lack of extra money or jobs. AB describes problems with safe footwear, and how management tried to solve it, says ‘You couldn’t afford to be safe’, mentions flame retardant clothing as ‘the best thing’, but workers were resistant to change. AB comments on the really good relationship between workers and management. |