Watson, Glenroy
2013 "Watson, Glenroy", 2013, HistoryTalk Having been greatly influenced by the exhortations of his family to get a trade upon leaving school in the mid-70s, Glenroy took up a 5 year apprenticeship as an Electronic and Fuel Engineer at Lucas UK in Camden Town, becoming Workshop Manager....
| Institution: | TUC - Trade Union Congress Library |
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| Language: | English |
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London
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/0A1E6F92-195F-4A2E-AEA9-88BBF4754E5D http://hdl.handle.net/10796/2260FD75-9DEB-44C6-8B74-D5A9D804DEF7 |
| Summary: | 2013
"Watson, Glenroy", 2013, HistoryTalk
Having been greatly influenced by the exhortations of his family to get a trade upon leaving school in the mid-70s, Glenroy took up a 5 year apprenticeship as an Electronic and Fuel Engineer at Lucas UK in Camden Town, becoming Workshop Manager.
Glenroy left to take up a post as a Workshop Manager for London Transport in June 1979, working on the maintenance of Buses. In September 1979, Glenroy transferred to the London Underground, becoming a Station Guard and, later, a Tube Train Driver, working on several of the Lines. During the late 1980s, One Person Operation (OPO) was introduced on the Underground, which obviated the use of Guards on the trains. Glenroy was resolute in his opposition to this initiative and, indeed, still remains so. Glenroy has also served as a full-time Union Official on the Sectional Council and, all told, has worked for London Transport (and its re-branded successors) for 32 years of continuous service.
Glenroy reflects that he has enjoyed fulfilling an important function in serving the Public in his career with London Underground, and also anticipates the prospect of automatic trains being introduced on the Tube network, addressing the possible consequences arising from their implementation. Glenroy has been an activist from an early age, his commitment to the Anti-Apartheid Movement cause having been forged, initially, at Secondary School. He was also a member of the Students Union whilst studying at Hackney College for his City & Guilds. He became a member of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) when he commenced work at Lucas. Glenroy comments: I believe in the concept of a workers organisation, believing that unions fulfil a vital function in providing necessary checks and balances in the workplace. At London Underground, Glenroy has served as a representative for the NUR and its successor, the RMT. As a Branch Secretary, Glenroy was a prominent figure in the (official and unofficial) strikes opposing the introduction of One Person Operation on the Tube. He has also served as a full-time Union Official on the Sectional Council, and was a founder member of the short-lived Equality Board, on which he fought for fair and equal treatment for senior black staff on the Underground. Glenroy remains a fully committed official of the RMT.
In his clip Glenroy describes the practice of using "pen pictures" in estimating "suitability"on London Underground in regard to the promotion of staff to management positions.
Click on the pdf icon to read the entire transcript or click on the mp3 icon to hear a clip of the interview. |
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| Physical Description: | Photograph TEXT |