Made in Dagenham Page #5

of Ford Dagenham

brought their protest

to Westminster today.

Some didn't need

much persuasion

to demonstrate

their feminine charms.

It's interesting, all this politics,

when you get down to it. Oh, sorry.

How long will they stay out?

Must be starting to bite.

As long as it takes.

Does your husband support you?

He has to.

Yeah.

Yes, of course he does.

And we all supported the men

when they went out on strike. Yeah.

Does it bother you that you've been

described as the Revlon revolutionary?

Have they been in touch

about doing some modeling?

I don't think so.

I think you're talking to the wrong girl.

Actually...

No, I prefer to focus on

the issues of the strike.

What makes this strike different

is it's not about a specific pay...

Ain't that something, eh?

Yeah, she's doing all right.

This is Laurie Cannon,

BBC News, at Westmin...

She mentioned you

on the telly there, Ed.

I tell you what, that's

some woman you got there.

Right. I gotta get going.

What, already?

Gotta fetch the kids. Rita reckons

they ain't gonna be back till 6,

so I need to get them sorted.

Get your apron.

Shut up, you.

Tell her to get her finger out.

It's gone on long enough.

I don't think

they're dragging it out.

It's all right for you,

it's different for me.

I can't be doing with this strike.

Yeah, I know that, and they'll settle it.

Soon as they can.

See you tomorrow.

Yeah. See you later, Ed.

Top it up, would you,

Pete, please?

There's nothing I can do about

it. Come and have a look for yourself.

That's what I'm saying,

you've had them all.

There are no more finished seats.

Full stop.

Frank, what do you

want me to do?

We're going home, mate.

You what?

No more seats, no more jobs.

For any of us.

You lot are a bit early, aren't you?

Hey, what's going on?

You've shut the factory.

Well done.

Ford's Dagenham.

The plant is mainly idle.

With thousands laid off, strike bound,

and production barely ticking over,

millions of vital pounds being lost

in export orders.

And until there's

an answer to the rift

between management

and Ford's machinists,

the factory gates will remain closed

indefinitely to the entire work force.

You all right?

Yeah.

Been busy, have you?

Yeah.

It's the final push, Eddie.

Entire main plant closed down.

Ford can't afford that, so...

I mean, I'm sorry about you

and the lads and everything.

Oh, no, don't worry about us, Rita.

We was only saying on the way out

it's warm weather at the moment.

Cut the gas off, we'll hardly notice.

Yeah.

Well, the thing is, Eddie,

you know, I know how you feel.

All them times

you've been on strike

and us girls come out

in support of you men.

It's meant no work for us either.

Yeah.

Have you got something

on your mind, Eddie?

Ey?

Got something on your mind?

Got nothing on my mind.

I'm fine. I'd say.

Good.

It ain't been

the easiest day for me either.

Thank you for waiting.

I have Mr. Ford for you gentlemen.

I thought your

boy said he could handle this.

Do we even know

what we're dealing with?

Socialist Workers Party?

Workers Revolutionary Party?

Revolutionary

Communist-f***ing-Party?

Who's she with?

Well, we don't actually think

she's with anyone, sir.

We actually don't think

she's a communist. She looks...

I don't care if she looks

like Jane-f***ing-Fonda.

I wanna know

why she's acting like this.

As a matter of fact,

she hasn't got a political background

either inside or outside the union.

Her husband is a moderate.

We just think she's got a beef.

A beef? Heh. Have you tried getting

a decent steak in England?

If this woman gets what she wants,

we'll end up having to do it

right across the world.

Do you understand that?

Yes, sir, I do.

Good.

So deal with it.

Guess you'll be getting

the next flight.

Yeah.

Prime Minister, I don't

think you appreciate the urgency...

The urgency of the situation.

Fetch. Good dog, Barry.

- That's it.

- Prime Minister?

Until you help me,

I cannot get this country back to work.

I understand that, but we need to

tread carefully. Draw the unions in.

We have to acknowledge

that without the unions,

there would be no Labour Party.

Hm.

I was a member

of the trade union movement

while you were still

at your mother's breast.

Unless you've got something to add

beyond the obvious,

I'd prefer it if you keep quiet.

Harold, you asked me to do this job.

You appointed me.

You're the best man in my

cabinet, I often say that.

Harold, I cannot do it without you.

I need you.

Jack Scamp, he's your man.

Any impasse, get Jack in.

Sits them all around a table,

beer and pork pie.

Straight-talking negotiation.

He's the way forward.

Beer and pork pie?

Mm-hm.

Might not do

for the latest one down at Ford.

A hundred and eighty-seven

machinists, all women.

Well, perhaps we can get them

a finger buffet in, eh?

Finger buffet? Good.

- So how was the flight?

- It was long.

I'm sorry to drag you over.

Well, they're taking this

very seriously, right at the top.

Come in, my wife's cooking dinner.

Well, I don't wanna be any trouble.

Honestly, it's the least I can do.

Lisa, this is Robert Tooley.

Pleasure to meet you.

Likewise.

At last.

I was telling Peter that I'm perfectly

happy to eat later at the hotel so...

It's really no problem.

She loves to cook, don't you?

Let me take your hat and coat.

Thank you.

Come through, have a drink. I'll

run you back when we're finished.

Thank you. It was delicious.

Lovely.

Thank you.

Can you bring some brandy glasses

back in with you?

Absolutely.

Lisa? Do you mind if I call you Lisa?

You must have quite a head

on your shoulders.

Peter tells me that you read

history at Cambridge?

- Yes, I did.

- Do you mind if I ask

what do you think of our little

problem over at the factory?

Do you think maybe

he's a bit too much velvet glove?

Not enough iron fist?

Oh, not at all, no.

No, quite the opposite actually.

Look at Vauxhall.

They don't have any problems

with the unions

because General Motors has a more

collaborative approach to management.

Whereas at Ford, you...

Well, you only deal with the

unions because you have to.

You tolerate them. And as a

result, they're more entrenched

and they're aggressive

in their dealings with you.

Well, ha-ha, that's a very

progressive point of view.

Don't you think?

Cheese.

What?

We have some Stilton.

Why don't you get that out?

Right.

Some grapes.

- Yes, good idea.

- That'll be terrific, thank you.

Come on, girls. There's a cauliflower

or cabbage for everyone.

Cauliflower again?

Haven't got anything else?

Blimey, he must love you.

I've never had real pineapple.

- Let her know it's yours.

- Go on, Mum.

Sandra, here's your strike pay.

Thanks.

Three quid?

Yeah, I know it's not much.

It's all the union can afford, I'm afraid.

Better than nothing.

I'll take it back if you don't want it.

No.

Oh, all right then.

Sandra, cauliflower or cabbage?

- I'm fine, thanks.

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