麻豆社

In 1968, 87 women machinists making car seat covers at the giant Ford factory in Dagenham walked out in a dispute over grading. They were angry that men doing more menial jobs were classed as semi-skilled, while they were classed as unskilled -- and paid less.

The Employment Secretary Barbara Castle had tea with them, and two years later the 1970 Equal Pay Act was passed.

Following a successful film and a West End musical, a new production is now playing just down the road from the Dagenham factory. Nick Higham drove along to a rehearsal.

(Photo: the cast with 2 of the original strikers Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis Credit: Zbigniew Kotkiewicz)