The Box That Changed Britain

[Smiler.]

Saw this on BBC4 last night - I found it fascinating.

Of particular interest was the union response to the introduction of container technology.

I'm sure the issues were more complex than portrayed but I can't help thinking that if the unions were more amenable, the transition would have been easier.

I gleamed a certain "attitude" from the ex-dockers that were interviewed (and the scouse daughter of a docker who took a very dim view of capitalism).

I wonder how she thinks the economy should work then.

This was balanced by one chap who towards the end of the programme conceded that the system made sense & was indeed progress.

[SpeedBash]

"In the 1960's, freight costs often accounted for 30% of the price of foreign goods. The shipping container reduced those costs to less than 1%".

"Containerisation is so efficient that it costs less to ship goods to Britain from China than it does to drive them up the motorway to the nearest town or city".

"The economics of this really are incredible because the delivery cost of shipping a flat screen TV from half way round the world from Asia to the UK is less than the delivery cost of taking it from the store to your house in the UK".


Fascinating programme.

[ninja-lewis]

You may find these accounts interesting.

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-part-in-do...

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/07/walking-throu...