The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
The Halifax Laundry Blues
Women workers give voice to their puzzlement, anger and despair as years of hard work cleaning laundry for hospitals is discarded.
From the collection of:
Overview
This documentary on the lives of laundry workers under threat provides a rare opportunity to hear from those at the sharp end of Mrs Thatcherβs policy of "reversing the corrosive and corrupting effects of socialism." With privatisation well under way, women working in the laundry that had been supplying Halifax hospitals for over 100 years find their livelihoods on the line as services go out to tender to private contractors.
Mrs Thatcher and her close associates, most notably Keith Joseph, came to power in 1979 with the intent to privatise as much of the public sector as possible. During her reign this amounted to more than 50 companies, beginning with BP in October 1979. The 1983 Griffiths Report on the NHS, which focused on management structure, recommended contracting out areas to the private sector. Yet the NHS was left relatively non-privatised by Mrs Thatcher β although private companies have always supplied the NHS. But the skirmish over hospital laundry services was a forerunner for subsequent moves towards privatisation, expanding into clinical services. Note that the narrator, director and producer are all women.
Related
Calderdale Talking Newspaper Calderdale Talking Newspaper
Documentary 1981 6 mins Location: Halifax
Dedicated volunteers from Halifax provide a talking newspaper service for locals on cassettes, strangely not motivated by money.
Calderdale Calderdale
Factual TV 1987 9 mins Location: Halifax
Halifaxβs Calderdale Council inspires real and lasting positive change in the community through infrastructure investment in this film.
The Baker The Baker
Amateur film 1985 9 mins Location: Halifax
An experienced Halifax baker takes us behind the counter and showcases his sweet and savoury secrets in this endearing short film.
Halifax Day by Day Halifax Day by Day
Documentary 1910 2 mins Silent Location: Halifax
One of the most industrious and enterprising towns of northern England takes a break to greet the novelty of the movie camera.
See You Tomorrow See You Tomorrow
Industry sponsored film 1965 17 mins Location: Halifax
The lesson here is clear, do the right things in the workplace β wear totectors and Rozalex barrier cream β and all will be well, and if not there is a nurse on hand with a plaster.
Gledhill Collection 5 Gledhill Collection 5
Home movie 1940 12 mins Silent Location: Halifax
Life in an army training camp as new squaddies, learning to drill and use a rifle, are joined by evacuees from Dunkirk, having a haircut and mixing up handball with football.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archiveβs role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.