Plaque to mark three-year industrial dispute

A plaque commemorating one of Britain’s longest industrial disputes is to be unveiled in Caernarfon.

Workers at the Friction Dynamics car parts factory (formerly known as Ferodo) near the town manned the picket lines for nearly three years after being sacked by the firm’s American owner, Craig Smith, in May 2001.

The 86 workers, who were all members of the Transport & General Workers Union (T&G), had gone on strike over terms and conditions.

They later won their claim for wrongful dismissal at an employment tribunal and expected compensation.

But Friction Dynamics went into administration in August 2003, and a new company – Dynamex Friction – began production just two weeks later.

The former workers continued their battle for compensation until August 2004, when they finally gave up.

The plaque will be located on the Maes in the centre of Caernarfon, where two huge rallies of more than 3,000 people each were held during the dispute.

Alun Roberts, who supported the striking workers during the dispute, said: “There is no plaque to recognise the dispute.

“I gathered a small group to raise funds and make a plaque. The group included former workers at the factory and it was they who took the major decisions.

“One was where to site the plaque, which will be a metal one. They didn’t want it at the factory site as they feared no-one would see it.

“Permission has been granted to place the plaque on a plinth on the Maes.”