The Rag Trade – (1977) season 1
Episodes
Stay In Strike
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!
The Sample
Overjoyed at securing an exclusive Italian design, Fenner and Tony are slightly perturbed to find all the instructions are in Italian
Fixing The Rate
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
The Lunch Problem
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
The Export Order
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
The Italian Line
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
Olive's Baby
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
The Wedding Dress
Fenner becomes frantic then Mrs. Fenner starts doing stocktaking. Despite her best intentions, it's not long before she and Paddy are at loggerheads
The Sideline
A new line of fur garments causes consternation among the workforce - until they figure out they can make toy pandas from the offcuts
The Guvnor's Wife
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
The New Girl
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.
The Bet
Gambling fever strikes the workforce when they discover that a horse called Paddy is running that afternoon at Aintree racecourse
The Accident
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.
The New Brother
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.
Christmas Rush
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.