SOUND ARCHIVE

Living Linen Interview LL2_R00/01

Sound Recording : Magnetic Tape, Reel

Larmour, Bobby (Mr) (Primary maker)
Larmour, Bobby (Mr) (interviewee)

12/01/2000
12/01/2000

Sound Recording on Reel: Tester - Ewarts, Trade Unionism. Library Transcript: Transcript. Summary: Mr Larmour was born in North Belfast in 1929. His father was a plumber by trade. Mr Larmour’s elder sister worked as a clerk in Ewart's winding shop, and it was she who secured his position as an apprentice tenter, or loom overlooker, at the age of 16. The apprenticeship lasted five years, after which Bobby had to serve a further year as an improver before becoming fully qualified. Mr Larmour also attended the Belfast Tech at this time. He describes Ewarts as being very forward looking. The firm recognised the advantages of investing in their employees and encouraged them to undertake training courses. Ewarts paid the fees in full and granted day release to their workers. The tenter's job was to ensure that his batch of some 40 - 60 looms ran smoothly and efficiently. As well as changing the warp beams, the tenter carried out routine adjustments to the loom. As tenters were paid a productivity bonus, it was in their interests to keep the looms running and the weavers busy. While the tenters remained directly accountable to a foreman, they were also responsible for making sure that the weavers kept good time and remained at their looms throughout the working day. Due to this co-dependency, weavers and tenters worked together as a team. During his time at Ewarts, Mr Larmour was a member of the Loom Overlookers’ Trade Union, which was affiliated to the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Trade Union (ATGWU). The position of union representative, or shop steward, was rotated on an annual basis. In 1962 Frank Hughes, the ATGWU's permanent textile official, encouraged Bobby to apply for a full time post covering the Banbridge and Dromore areas. Due to his interest in union affairs and the limited promotion opportunities for a tenter within Ewarts, or the linen industry in general, Mr Larmour agreed to submit an application. Bobby Larmour moved to Banbridge on the insistence of the regional secretary and was soon in charge of the Lurgan and Lisburn districts as well as Banbridge. Approximately 50% of his 4,500 members would have been textile workers. As most of the textile firms were themselves members of employers associations such as the Flax Spinners Association or the Power Loom Manufacturers Association, which agreed upon standard working arrangements, Mr Larmour rarely negotiated with individual firms. This forum was usually able to prevent strike action. When negotiating with a firm that was not affiliated to one of these groupings, Mr Larmour always attempted to bring their working practices into line with what had been agreed in other firms. Complaints lodged by union members include: unfair dismissal, working temperatures, sanitation and wage levels. In 1962 some firms were hostile towards trade unions and officials had to collect dues door-to-door rather than in the workplace. In later years the firm came to appreciate the role of trade unions in promoting industrial efficiency and permitted subscriptions to be deducted from member's wage packets. Members were entitled to free legal advice, injury benefit, death benefit, and legal representation if the union felt that they had a case. Sectarianism never presented any difficulties to the trade union movement. A women's officer was appointed to deal with particular problems for female members. The strength of the union has fallen away with the decline of the linen industry and manual work in general. Today in the combined Banbridge, Lisburn and Lurgan areas there are approximately 5-600 textile members.

HOYFM.R2000.9

National Museums NI