'They just wanted rid of us': Musical tells story of Lee Jeans sit-in women

In February 1981, the workers of the Lee jeans factory in Greenock downed tools and barricaded themselves into the building.

Helen Monaghan, the shop steward of the National Union of Tailor and Garment Workers had been in negotiations with the American owners, Vanity Fair Corporation, for several months.

The company, which had been given a grant to set up in Greenock 10 years before, had already transferred the cutting room to Northern Ireland, and had been offered a grant to transfer the whole operation there.

"We offered to job share," she says.

"We offered a three day week. And when everything was a no, we realised they just wanted rid of us."

The events led to one of the most extraordinary chapters in Scottish industrial history as the mainly-female work force occupied the factory for seven months.

The Inverclyde community rallied round them, raising money and sharing food and provisions.

There was even entertainment. The political theatre company 7:84 brought a show about striking miners and brass bands to the factory.

Newly written by playwright John Burrows, it pre-empted the film comedy Brassed Off by 15 years and amused the Lee workers with a song about how difficult it is to take a shower during a strike.

But it would be close to 45 years before the workers themselves would inspire a piece of theatre.

Journalist Paul English grew up in Inverclyde where he says the story has never been forgotten.

Along with writer Frances Poet, he approached the National Theatre of Scotland about a new stage musical Stand and Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit In, which opened at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow this week.

"Music is important to the play - and not just because the soundtrack in the play contextualises it in place and time," he says.

"Music was important to them in the sit-in. They adapted the popular chart songs of the day, reworked the lyrics, had them up on the wall, and sang them together. It was a collective bonding which sustained them during the sit-in."

The play has been emotional for the four women who shared their stories.

As well as Helen Monaghan, who'll turn 90 in the next few weeks, it draws on the memories of Maggie Wallace, her sister Cathie and their friend Catherine Robertson, who were all in their teens or early 20s at the time.

"They called us the Dirty Dozen," says Maggie.

"They used to send us out when the photographers came down."

Maggie was also responsible for a daredevil run to fetch fish and chips for the striking workers.

"They nominated me and wee Huey Malcolm to go up and over the roof with a bag of money."

"I usually went in to Aldos for a fish supper for my mum and dad but this time, I went in and told them I needed 240 fish suppers."

While the fish shop owner got to work, she nipped home to tell her mother what was happening.

"She was mad. She said your tea is in the oven and it's ruined."

Having persuaded her mum to call the papers and TV stations to tell them what was happening, Maggie returned to the factory where they enjoyed their fish suppers and staged a concert.

Other unions offered their support. The local shipyard workers added 50p onto their weekly subscriptions, which went to support the strike.

"We used some of that money to allow each worker to have a night away from the factory," says Helen.

"It was important for morale."

Visitors included Tony Benn and the then Labour leader Michael Foot. And many of the workers delivered speeches across Scotland.

"Nobody knew anything about politics but we made history," says Catherine Robertson.

"It's brilliant to have this play because your kids can say my mammy was there, or my granny was there."

The women recall sleeping on beds made from cardboard, covered with their own coats.

"We only thought we'd be there for one night," says Catherine.

But by August, they had a slick system with rotas for cleaning and cooking as well as campaigning.

And by then the American owners agree to a local management buy out.

The new company Inverwear Limited had a hundred fewer jobs to offer, and its success was short-lived. Two years later, they called in the receivers.

But it remains one of the most significant moments in trade union history, and Maggie Wallace believes it deserves to be remembered, and introduced to a new generation.

"It's good to show what you can achieve when you stick together," she says.

"That you don't need to have fear. It's possible to take the big company on and win."

Seeing the play on stage for the first time on Tuesday night was an emotional experience for them all.

Speaking about Catherine and Maggie, who were teenagers at the time, former union rep Helen said: "They did do my head in sometimes. But we were all good friends when we stuck together, and look at us now. We still are."

Maggie said: "It captured us all. We really were a thorn in Helen's side."

Teresa Gallagher, who also took part in the sit-in, said: "It's very emotional, sad, happy, a bit of everything. It's nice to look back and you can't believe you've done it."

They have all kept in touch and they hope even more of the former workers will be around when the show arrives for two nights in Greenock in June.

Helen said: "It's a small town and a wee community club so we all keep in touch."

Stand and Deliver is at the Tron Theatre until 9 May before touring to Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Peebles, Tobermory, Inverness, Cumbernauld and Greenock.