Description:There was a trade union in the Birmid Industries and white people were in the forefront of it.
In early 60’s, some educated people from abroad arrived in the country they started getting involved in the union activities. The Birmid Qualcast group was a group of foundries based all over the country but a big group was in Smethwick. The coloured people started understanding the policy of the white people and started fighting for their rights. The jobs were very hard at that time. The white people started leaving the jobs due to hard work. The white people slowly were in minority in the departments. Coloured people elected their shop stewards as they were in majority in most of the departments. There was still discrimination at work as the management also helped the white people. When the coloured people were organised they started asking for their rights. Then the management realised the organisational strength of the workers. Discrimination did not stop completely because it was done indirectly. When the coloured immigrants became well organised by the late 60’s, lots of facilities were achieved at work, such as good wages, health and safety at work, washing facilities, holidays etc.