First Minister Rhodri Morgan has been in north Wales to remember the centenary of Britain's longest industrial strike at the Penrhyn quarry.

He unveiled a new memorial at Bethesda, Gwynedd, commemorating the men who stood firm for three years against quarry owner Lord Penrhyn.

Bethesda was one of the communities most affected by the strike.

The Great Penrhyn Quarry Strike started on 22 November, 1900, after Lord Penrhyn refused to let union officials collect contributions from members.

Defining moment

It lasted three years and became Britain's longest strike.

It was a landmark in the development of trade unionism, and was a defining experience for the Labour movement in Wales.

Thousands of men stayed away from work and many of them lost their jobs in the quarry.

The TGWU organised the Bethesda memorial.

The TGWU inherited the mantle of the old North Wales Quarrymen's Union - which merged with it in the1950's.