When Plessey faced its final days in Sunderland - remembering the giant factory
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The end of an industrial era was looming in Sunderland almost 50 years ago this month.
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Hide AdThe uncertain future of Plessey was in the news in 1977 and about 300 workers at the plant were about to leave their jobs in the first stage of the rundown.
It all changed with cuts in investment
Plessey was a British electronics, defence and telecommunications company.
But by the 1970s, they were sad times for the Sunderland factory which employed 2,000 people on Wearside. At its height there had been as many as 3,000.
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Hide AdHowever, campaigners were not giving up without a fight.
The Industry Minister, Mr Alan Williams, was meeting Plessey executives. Proposals for redundancy terms and a planned rundown of the factory - which was due to close in June 1977 - were agreed between the unions and the company.
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It was then considered by the Department of Employment and if approved, the first 300 workers would leave within a week.
It did hopefully mean that some would be kept on for a while but the end was in sight.
Many workers were unhappy with the plans and staged protests.
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Hide AdIf you worked at Plessey, we want your memories of your time there.
We want to hear from the people who worked there.
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