6,000 laid off at Talbot car plant
Hundreds of families were facing real hardship less than three weeks after 6,000 workers were laid off from the Talbot car plant at Paisley’s Linwood Road.
Employees at the factory received a tax rebate of between £8 and £13, we reported in September 1979, but were told it would be some time before they could get any unemployment benefit.
Families with young children were hardest hit. But in the Paisley area, where the former Chrysler plant was by far the largest single employer, other households suffered the double blow of having both husband and wife out of work.
The Talbot workers laid off were paid in full that week because they received their wages one week behind.
They were given two days pay the following week for the Monday and Tuesday leading up to the lay-offs.
They got their tax rebate but there was still no sign of unemployment benefit because it took a long time for a test case to decide the matter.
That case was won and the money was to be paid.
However, some families were already finding it tough going to make ends meet.
Mrs Margaret Cooperwhite, who worked at the factory, said:“We are just back from our holidays.
“Everybody comes back from their holidays skint.
“I was given £8.50 today to keep us going.
“It’s murder.”