Catch up TV

Series 1: Episode 5

In this final episode, original factory girls give first-hand accounts of their experiences on the factory floor, at the kitchen sink and on raucous nights out. The women speak of terrifying bosses, everyday sexism, union battles, camaraderie and of lifelong friendships forged on the production line. With Wales-born presenter Alex Jones guiding us through this most important chapter in industrial history, the programme also shows how the factory was lovingly brought back to life using the testimony of those original factory girls as inspiration.\n\nThe women's real-life stories are grounded in the south Wales valleys where female factory workers were poorly paid, unfairly treated and denied basic rights. In the 60s and early 70s it was perfectly legal for women to be paid less than men, to be sacked when they were pregnant and to be denied the right to apply for the same jobs as men. But women fought back and when the female workers at Ford Dagenham walked out demanding equal pay, they set in motion a fight for equal pay in factories across Britain.\n\nThe original factory girls share their memories of starting work at the factories- often swapping the school gates for the factory floor at the age of 15. A job in the factory gave the teenagers the freedom and wages they'd never had. But as they grew in experience and became skilled seamstresses they realised they were being treated as second class citizens, often working in harsh conditions and earning much less than their male counterparts. There was little equality at home too - once the shift was over, it would be time to go home to make the tea. But there was also a lot of fun to be had in the factory. The long hours, sitting side by side on the production line, gave the women a strong sense of camaraderie and they forged friendships that would last a lifetime.\n\nBut then came the 80s - while conditions had improved and the fight for equality was starting to pay off, the clothing industry came under serious threat with the loss government subsidies and the economic pressures of globalisation. The original factory girls share their devastation at seeing their livelihood and whole way of life come to an end. This programme is an opportunity to hear the voices of the unsung heroes who achieved so much in the fight for women's rights.

Source: BBC 2