Name/TitleWhen The Noise Of The Machines Stopped
About this objectSlim booklet with cream covers titled 'When The Noise Of The Machines Stopped' by Rhia Laing. Based on the sit-in at Greenock's Lee Jeans factory and the stories of some of the women who took part, the booklet was made for the Lee Jeans Sit-In Heritage Project facilitated by RIG Arts and was funded by Creative Scotland.
Fully digitised
MakerLaing, Rhia
Maker RoleAuthor
Date Made2022
Period1980s
Place MadeScotland, Greenock
Medium and MaterialsOrganic, paper
MeasurementsH: 187 x W: 133 mm
Subject and Association KeywordsStrike action
Subject and Association KeywordsFactory work
Subject and Association Keywordswomen's history
Subject and Association Descriptionhttps://www.rigarts.org/lee-jeans-sit-in:
Since 2020 we have been working with local creatives to make a documentary film to mark the 40th anniversary of the seven-month-long stand-off between workers and the American-owned giant VF Corporation at the Lee Jeans factory.
In February 1981, employees at the factory in Larkfield, Greenock, were told that it had been decided that the factory would close, with production moving to Northern Ireland. The 240 strong mainly female workforce then barricade themselves inside the factory and remained there for another 7 months in an attempt to save their jobs. In August 1981, it was announced that they had been successful – their jobs were saved.
In an attempt to preserve and honour the enigmatic voices of this successful industrial action and those surrounding it, we began a heritage project that created research materials for the documentary team, as well as engaging community members across Greenock in an important piece of local history. We have been busy holding creative workshops with local schools on the subject, held writing workshops with local musicians to make music to be featured in the film, as well as held creative writing workshops with local groups to build the script for reconstruction in the documentary.
Watch Sitting Tight below or at our Vimeo page.
Object TypeBooklet
Object numberGWL-2022-147
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved