Cowley car workers led the way when it came to strikes, but they weren’t the only ones to stage protests.

One reader reminded us that stoppages took place in other city establishments, among them Oxford University Press (OUP).

However, employees there found a cheaper way of airing their grievances, by holding demonstrations during their lunch hour, then returning to work.

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Picture 1 shows staff staging a march with their banners through Broad Street in 1980.

More than 150 members of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staff (ASTMS) in the OUP publishing division were protesting at plans to end 30 jobs.

The management wanted some of them to go by the end of December, a bitter blow so close to Christmas and the New Year.

In Picture 2, we see Eunice Gill, left, and Enid Barker on picket duty outside the OUP premises in Walton Street during a one-hour strike in 1981.

The two women were facing redundancy because OUP was closing its map-making section. Both had worked there for 13 years.

Oxford Mail: Miss Barker, of Kidlington, said: “It’s very depressing. It shatters your whole life. I’m happy in my job and I wouldn’t have worked here as long as I have if I didn’t like it.”

Mrs Gill, 35, of Witney, said: “I’m very interested in publishing and enjoy my job. I don’t want to change it.”

Their colleagues were threatening further stoppages if they were not reinstated. The management said it would try to find the women other jobs, but could give no guarantees.

Pictures 3 and 4 date from spring 1984 when workers staged what was described as the first all-out strike since OUP was formed in 1478.

The first ASTMS pickets arrived at 6.30am and one of their early successes was to persuade the driver of a Royal Mail van to turn back. The strike over pay put the printing division out of contact with the outside world – switchboard operators were among those on strike. Only top priority calls were handled.

Oxford Mail: Picture 5 was taken in 1988 during another OUP lunchtime protest over pay, while in Picture 6, staff are seen demanding the reinstatement of one of their union branch officials in 2000.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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