The Rag Trade

(1977) season 1

1977 · 15 episodes · 7h 30m in all

Episodes

1. 1

   1. Stay In Strike

   11 Sept 1977 · 30 min

   Fenner lands a contract to supply a German businessman with new garments. Unfortunately he wants to see the workforce in action before he confirms the order!

2. 2

   2. The Sample

   18 Sept 1977 · 30 min

   Overjoyed at securing an exclusive Italian design, Fenner and Tony are slightly perturbed to find all the instructions are in Italian

3. 3

   3. Fixing The Rate

   25 Sept 1977 · 30 min

   Fenner is appalled to find that although productivity is down, pay rates are going up! He tries to institute a Time and Motion study, but that doesn't find favour with the work force

4. 4

   4. The Lunch Problem

   2 Oct 1977 · 30 min

   Paddy holds a special meeting to discuss the extortionate cost of lunch; the general feeling is that Fenner should pay them a lunch allowance. funnily enough, Fenner disagrees

5. 5

   5. The Export Order

   9 Oct 1977 · 30 min

   Fenner manages to land an export order to a firm in New York. The catch is that they must be of a certain quality and out the door by 4pm

6. 6

   6. The Italian Line

   16 Oct 1977 · 30 min

   Fenner upsets the status quo by bringing in an Italian to supervise a new line of designs. Despite initial misgivings the workforce suddenly warm to him when they find out he's drop dead gorgeous

7. 7

   7. Olive's Baby

   23 Oct 1977 · 30 min

   Everyone's concerned when Olive turns up late for work - which soon turns to astonishment when the realise she's brought her baby with her

8. 8

   8. The Wedding Dress

   30 Oct 1977 · 30 min

   Fenner becomes frantic then Mrs. Fenner starts doing stocktaking. Despite her best intentions, it's not long before she and Paddy are at loggerheads

9. 9

   9. The Sideline

   6 Nov 1977 · 30 min

   A new line of fur garments causes consternation among the workforce - until they figure out they can make toy pandas from the offcuts

10. 10

    10. The Guvnor's Wife

    13 Nov 1977 · 30 min

    The girls are up in arms when Mrs. Fenner puts in a special order for a new outfit, and Fenner is caught in the middle when the inevitable ructions start

11. 11

    11. The New Girl

    20 Nov 1977 · 30 min

    A new line in negligees prompts Fenner to bring in a new production supervisor and self-styled "business efficiency expert". Her goal - to increase the girls' efficiency.

12. 12

    12. The Bet

    27 Nov 1977 · 30 min

    Gambling fever strikes the workforce when they discover that a horse called Paddy is running that afternoon at Aintree racecourse

13. 13

    13. The Accident

    11 Dec 1977 · 30 min

    When Mabel pricks her finger on a broken needle - and Kathy cuts her finger on the first aid box - Paddy holds Fenner to account for failing to prevent an industrial accident.

14. 14

    14. The New Brother

    18 Dec 1977 · 30 min

    Fenner employs a new embroiderer to add finesse to some of the designs. It doesn't take long for Paddy to figure out the new recruit is far too productive, and she tries to get her to sign up to the union.

15. 15

    15. Christmas Rush

    24 Dec 1977 · 30 min

    Christmas brings down productivity no end, much to Fenners chagrin. Things get much worse when he realises that he hasn't bought his wife a Christmas present.