Badge - Support Silentnight Strikers
Object
Badge
Production date
1985-1987
Object number
2024.353
Physical Description
Circular badge, white background with black text. Words 'support/silentnight/strikers' share the same large 's.'
Object history
When in June 1985 workers at the Silentnight bed factories in Lanchasire legally went on strike over non-implementation of agreed pay rises and compulsory redundancies, the company responded with mass dismissals. A total of 346 workers were fired for taking part in the action.
The resulting dispute was one of the longest strikes in British history, with the two factories picketed for 20 months until February 1987. The strike, which took place shortly after the defeat of the Miners’ Strike (1984-85), received widespread support and activism from around the country.
This badge belonged to Hackney union activists Nik Wood and Mary Pimm. It would have been acquired locally, perhaps at a union conference.
The resulting dispute was one of the longest strikes in British history, with the two factories picketed for 20 months until February 1987. The strike, which took place shortly after the defeat of the Miners’ Strike (1984-85), received widespread support and activism from around the country.
This badge belonged to Hackney union activists Nik Wood and Mary Pimm. It would have been acquired locally, perhaps at a union conference.
Personal experiences
Experience shared by Nik Wood, a Hackney based civil servants and union activist:
There were two big strikes of the mid 1980s. The miners is one, and the other one that was a very long strike that people don't remember as much of, is the Silentnight Strikers in Yorkshire. They were a bed making firm and in 1985 the guy who ran it fired all sorts of people for having the temerity to go on strikes. And it was one of the longest running strikes of the time.
And of course being a furniture trade strike it had links here with Hackney. I mean, the furniture trade was fading away very rapidly but there was a Hackney link with the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union (FTAT). It was a complete defeat, but it was well fought.
Associated Person
Associated Place
Lancashire (Place)
Material
Metal
Plastic
Dimension
Circumference: 54mm
On display?
No
Inscription
FORWARD TOGETHER
SUPPORT
SILENTNIGHT
STRIKERS
SUPPORT
SILENTNIGHT
STRIKERS
