The Lost World of Red Robbo
- TV Movie
- 2007
- 30m
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A simple and accessible summary of the power of the unions in the 1970's as represented by Derek Robinson
As the opening narration says, the world of the 1970's in the UK is almost unrecognisable in the strikes, three day weeks and power cuts. Within what little remains of manufacturing in the UK today, the action of the unions are certainly nothing compared to what it was then, partly because of the rise of the global economy but also down to the breaking down of the massive cultural rift between management and the shop floor. This documentary is the story of this period, specifically focusing on the role of Derek Robinson (aka Red Robbo) who was the lead steward at British Leyland.
The title suggests that this is about Robbo's world rather than just the man himself and indeed this is just the way the film works. By focusing on him it shows the world of "everybody out", the wildcat strike and so on. Working as I do within a large manufacturing factory where many staff have been there for more than 25 years, I have heard stories of how easily strikes occur and found the film easy because it gave more national meat on these bones. The film does a good job of providing balance and doesn't side with the workers or the management and does convey the moral that when two groups work against each other rather than seeking common ground then the conclusion is rarely a good one.
Robbo is very much an old fashioned union man and it is testimony to his influence at the time that even today people of several generations think of him when they envisage powerful union reps. This is well captured in old footage of him where, with hindsight, you can see the damage he and his ilk were doing despite the good they were able to do for the working man however the national mood did drift away from him, even before Thatcher came to power.
Overall then a simple and accessible snippet of history around the power of the unions in the 1970's as represented by one overly powerful man. Brief and overly simplistic perhaps but it works for what it is and will be particularly good for those who never lived though these days and are learning more for the first time.
The title suggests that this is about Robbo's world rather than just the man himself and indeed this is just the way the film works. By focusing on him it shows the world of "everybody out", the wildcat strike and so on. Working as I do within a large manufacturing factory where many staff have been there for more than 25 years, I have heard stories of how easily strikes occur and found the film easy because it gave more national meat on these bones. The film does a good job of providing balance and doesn't side with the workers or the management and does convey the moral that when two groups work against each other rather than seeking common ground then the conclusion is rarely a good one.
Robbo is very much an old fashioned union man and it is testimony to his influence at the time that even today people of several generations think of him when they envisage powerful union reps. This is well captured in old footage of him where, with hindsight, you can see the damage he and his ilk were doing despite the good they were able to do for the working man however the national mood did drift away from him, even before Thatcher came to power.
Overall then a simple and accessible snippet of history around the power of the unions in the 1970's as represented by one overly powerful man. Brief and overly simplistic perhaps but it works for what it is and will be particularly good for those who never lived though these days and are learning more for the first time.
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- bob the moo
- Apr 21, 2007
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- Runtime30 minutes
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