Sewing machinists’ strike at Ford was not about equal pay

I write to correct the statement that “former workers at Ford’s Dagenham plant … walked out over equal pay” (Film about injustice is big winner on night of women standing tall, 19 February). As I have noted previously (Letters, 14 February 2017), the Ford sewing machinists went on strike in May 1968 not over the issue of equal pay as a principle of “justice” but over the company’s refusal to upgrade them to the skilled grade C. Nor was Ford’s position one of political reaction per se, but rather a money-saving exercise – the company was terrified that a successful upgrading claim by the machinists would launch a torrent of similar demands.

The equal pay misconception is widespread, as illustrated in the film Made In Dagenham. The point of trying to set it right is that many crucial workplace struggles are based not on some abstract conception of “justice” but on economic necessity, which frequently propels action highly alarming to mighty organisations like the Ford Motor Company. I can’t put the point better than did shop steward Lil O’Callaghan, now sadly deceased: “As regards equal pay … women should realise that they are working for what they can get, and Ford’s are making a big profit out of them.” Not so much moral rectitude but “working for what you can get” and the company’s clear economic ability to provide it are the key themes here. Nor is this argument “economistic” – in fact it’s highly political, as illustrated by the massive impact on the then Labour government, and Barbara Castle’s infinitely wily tactics in persuading – at her second attempt – the women back to work.
Sheila Cohen
London

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