Jimmy Airlie [SEP] place of death
Jimmy Airlie
Jimmy Airlie (10 November 1936, Renfrew – 10 March 1997, Erskine) was a leading Scottish trade unionist. While a shop steward, along with Sammy Gilmore, Sammy Barr and Jimmy Reid he was particularly remembered for his role as chairman of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in committee of 1971.
Trade unionism.
Airlie was a shop steward for the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) whilst he worked at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. In this capacity he was involved in the Fairfield Experiment (
than go on strike, and complete the orders that the shipyards had in place. Thus, it was argued, the employees would dispel the idea of the workers being 'work-shy' and also illustrate the long-term viability of the yards and the right to work.
The work-in was led by a group of young shop stewards, including Jimmy Reid, Jimmy Airlie, Sammy Barr and Sammy Gilmore, the former three being members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. Reid wanted to ensure the