Heroes and Cultural Identity Project
What does Culture mean to you?
Voices from Trade Union representatives in Falkirk, Scotland
- Culture, what culture? Everyone watches Eastenders (a soap opera)
and American crap, like everywhere else.
- When I'm out in my kilt (Scottish tartan skirt for men) it's
unbelievable. In the pub, women keep trying to touch my bum. With
my wife standing next to me! It's bloody embarrassing.
- Scotland? Bloody tourists. It takes me an hour to get to work in
the summer. Shite weather.
- No, even in the rain this place is beautiful. My heart sings
when I get back here. I don't say anything though.
- Bosses are bosses everywhere I suppose. But when our factory
was taken over by an American company, it took management some
time to realise we weren't go to say 'How high?' when they
said 'Jump'. They thought they were going to be able to push
us around. It's a constant battle though.
- We're not so well organised in my place. They're cutting
jobs. They've hired a load of Poles, no training, working all
hours. Some see this as a threat. It's only a threat if we
let the bosses divide and rule. We're signing them (Polish
workers) up to the union. Making sure they are getting the
same wage as us. They hadn't even been given information
in their own language on how to get out safely if there
was a fire. That's been sorted since we kicked up about it.
- There's not so much sectarianism (Catholic/Protestant hostility)
now. Just 90 minutes sectarianism on the football field.
Folk from down south can't get over it though when they
realise we want any other country to win, when they
play England.
- When you first come here, you can't believe how dour people
are. No hug, no kiss when you meet, just a slight nod. You
think they're unfeeling; then you realise you are their
close friend.
