November 05, 2026 - 358 views
A North Wales actor is helping bring one of Britain's longest-running industrial disputes to television in a new drama based on the bitter Friction Dynamics factory strike.
Emyr Gibson, who lives in the area and works as a creative practitioner at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon, plays factory worker Ifan Wyn in Y Streic Fawr (The Great Strike), a three-part series for S4C.
The drama revisits the dispute which began at the Friction Dynamics factory at Griffiths Crossing, near Caernarfon, in 2001 and went on to divide families, friendships and the wider community.
The factory, originally opened as Ferodo in 1962, manufactured brake parts for the motor industry. Workers walked out in April 2001 following disagreements over proposed pay cuts and deteriorating working conditions.
The dispute escalated when employees refused to sign new contracts after returning from an initial strike. They were locked out and subsequently dismissed.
An employment tribunal in Liverpool ruled in October 2002 that the workers had been unfairly dismissed. However, they received no compensation after the company went into receivership.
Emyr remembers driving past the picket lines during the dispute and sounding his car horn in support of the workers, although he admits he knew little about the circumstances at the time.
Taking part in the new television series has given him a much deeper understanding of what happened.
He said: "When the strike began I was living in Deiniolen and would often drive past the factory gates and see the workers standing outside.
"They would be there in all weathers and like many others I would toot the car horn in support but I didn't really know what the dispute was about."
His character, Ifan, is one of the striking workers, with the storyline also exploring the tensions between those taking part in the industrial action and employees who continued working.
It follows the impact on Ifan and his wife Sheila, played by Catrin Powell, as the dispute affects their lives away from the factory gates.
More than 100 people were involved in the dispute in its early stages, with 86 subsequently taking part in the employment tribunal.
Emyr said the characters were drawn from the experiences of several former employees, rather than attempting to tell every individual's story.
The production, made by Mojo Productions, was written by Ffion Dafis and directed by Huw Chiswell. Filming took place around Caernarfon earlier this year.
Several former factory workers have also been involved in bringing the story to the screen, contributing to the development of the storyline, attending script readings and appearing as extras.
Emyr said meeting the former employees and hearing their experiences had been particularly moving.
He added: "It was humbling to meet with them in the read-through and to hear of their experiences, and it was great to see them turn up for the filming of a scene when they decide to end the strike."
Alongside his acting career, Emyr works with residents at Bryn Seiont Newydd, which provides specialist care for people living with dementia.
He said he was grateful for the opportunity to take time away from his work at the home to take part in the production, but added that working with residents was equally rewarding.
Bryn Seiont Newydd manager Sandra Evans said Emyr brought great enjoyment to residents through music, singing and spending time talking with them.
She said the Friction Dynamics dispute was particularly significant for many residents because of their connections with Caernarfon and their memories of how the strike affected local families and the community.
The cast also includes Rhodri Trefor as Tom Jones, better known locally as Tommy Union, who had a direct connection with the factory, having worked at Ferodo before becoming a full-time trade union officer in North Wales.
Gruffudd Glyn plays Gerald Parry, one of the workers' main spokesmen during the dispute, while Rhys ap Trefor portrays John Davis, whose case was selected to represent the workers at the employment tribunal.
Producer Llyr Morus, who grew up in Caeathro near Caernarfon and knew some of the former factory employees, said it was a privilege to tell their story.
He said the sacrifices made by the 86 men and women involved in the tribunal had helped secure better working conditions for future generations.
The effects of the dispute could still be felt in Caernarfon today, he added, with friendships, families and communities having been divided.
The series has received support from the Welsh Government through Creative Wales.
The first episode of Y Streic Fawr will be shown on S4C at 9pm on Sunday, December 6. All three episodes will also be available on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer from the same date.
