The Friction Dynamics Strike

THE FRICTION DYNAMICS STRIKE

The Friction Dynamics Factory lies about one mile from the Caernarfon town square towards the Felinheli.. Originally called Ferodo the factory opened in 1962 employing more than 2000 workers manufacturing brake parts for the motoring industry. An American called Craig Smith bought the factory and he renamed it Friction Dynamics. At that time 200 workers were employed at the factory. The relationship between the new owner and some of the workforce turned sour and in April 2001 , members of the transport and General Workers Union began industrial action in a dispute over wholesale changes to working conditions, including changes to shifts and pay cuts.

Union members picketed the factory after being locked out and eight weeks later bosses sacked the TGWU members which led to the three year dispute.( nearly one thousand days)
In October 2002, an employment tribunal found the workers had been unfairly dismissed.But before compensation could be paid, Friction Dynamics called in the receivers in August 2003 and all workers were sacked.

Within three weeks, Mr Smith set up a new company called Dynamex Friction.The TGWU pickets called off their protest during Christmas 2003.The TGWU is now party of the UNITE union.
The factory eventually closed and the building is now derelict( 2019). A plaque was unveiled on the Maes( square) in Caernarfon to commemorate the dispute on May 28th 2018.This is one of the longest industrial disputes in Britain`s history and crucially it had local and national support.The eighty six strikers will never be forgotten