Life for the Shipyard workers

Shipyard workers going home from Queens Island, Belfast 1911.

It was a long week for the shipyard workers, their days starting just after 6.00am and finishing at 5.30pm, with only Saturday afternoons and Sundays off. For Managers the days were even longer as they were expected to be at their post to supervise before the rest of the men arrived to start the day. The men usually brought enough food with them for breakfast at 8.30am and lunch at 1.00pm (usually called a ‘piece’).