Catalogue Number
NMLH.1992.882
Object Name
Badge
Title
SHOE LANE PROGRESSIVES. NGA. STILL ALIVE AND KICKING
Place
Wapping, London
People
National Graphical Association (NGA)
Events
Wapping dispute
Description
Round black enamel pin badge with text around the edge, "SHOE LANE PROGRESSIVES. STILL ALIVE AND KICKING" with "NGA" inside a red five-pointed star in the centre, above three gold shoes walking. NGA refers to the trade union, National Graphical Association.
The badge was produced in support of printworkers, who had gone on strike in response to the management of Rupert Murdoch's News International refusing to negotiate terms for the movement of the printworks of the newspapers to a new factory in Wapping with worse terms of employment, in 1986. Following the declaration of the strike, known as the Wapping dispute, striking members of staff were fired. Mass pickets and a boycott movement soon followed, but the 54-week strike was ultimately unsuccessful.
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