The campaign stewards were unable to convince the workforce of the need to take inment and little or no leadership from the national unions.
ty convenor Monday 6 June National conference, the final stage of procedure, in the Warwicksalle countryside. Twelve pickets lobby the national officers. Gren Hawley chairs for the trade unions. His opening submission attacks closure as economic madness and argues tha SD1 is an essential part of a viable BL.
The company reply that inere Is substantial under-utilised capacity in BL which is a big drain on all resources. Savings from Solhul closure would be used for investment There moaer developichi.
sufficient apacity LOWICY. Oxford and Longbridge, Birmingham, to cope with any likely im provement in the market. Final The afternoon brings a final refusal by the company to change its position. The trade union side meets to consider its posi tion. All the national ofcers relecu COSUIC and promise support for action.
The results of the last raise meeting al the prats I alscu. craft unions seek assurances from the Transport Union that the mass meeting will pledge support to their to defeat the at Rover has Explain national .conference result which surprise to anyone. Go in- AM COOKSON to some details on the position of the national officials.
Mass Arrange the Mass meeting for 11.30 tomorrow morning. Aller a long discussion on thé resolunon tor une mass micellig: agree that should be short and the plant to industrial action if ine company DIOCCCUS with the closure plan.
Prepare Bulletin No 7 with the feeling that it will be the last. Argue for a fight, pointing to the fact that we can take advantage official backing to spread the fight, black BL goods and stop Leyland. But the feeling on the floor is that we will lose the vote The company puts out noon emphasising that the will not change contoally its mind, and that non-cooperation will result in loss of plant closure terms.
Wednesday Bring Bulletin No 7 into work. It rapidly distributed.
Mass meenne 11.30am. from TGWU and AUEW Ant la ou EETPU decides to stay away.
I open the meeting, exPhoto:
been Rover's undertakers Coolly received. Then Mick Clarke, convenor, introduces the shop stewards' resolution. Speakers from the floor. The first, who is against the resolution, attacks the 'lack of democracy" because the meeting las| week should have been final.
He attacks the section meetings organised by the shop stewards tha meeting; he attacks the shop stewards. He is applauded throughout.
A speaker for, Raghib Ahsan, who explains how the struggle can be won by blacking, flying pickets and so on. He speaks well, filling in the gaps others have lett.
speaker against,. shon steward who abstain. ed on the recommendation in the stewards' He points to past defeats, HE ROVEK BL management and the union leadership combined have had promised myself I would not, 'You can now join the dole queue. I hope you enjoy it.
Then a shop stewards' meeting. Like wake. vlck nanks lae stewares ! make a statement resignas ucouty collyelul explain this is not because implementing the closure agreement was resigning from the labour movement; on the contrary, l was more determined than ever to take up the fight in the TGWU on the question of the bloc vote and the deputy leadership.
Blame In addition, the blame for this defeat lies with the past policies of our leadership consequent lack of confidence on the part of hoped I would be able to members.
win many the shop stewards and the shop floor to take up this I finish by thanking the shop stewards for their support. Applause, a vote of thanks.
Jean Rivers vehemently attacks the shop Steware SOUKC against the recommendation at the mass meeting At one point it looks as if she is going to physically attack him. Meeting Cluses
----- pull-quotes -----
management's closure plans at Rover SD1 plant, Solihull, has failed. Shop
dustrial action to save jobs in the face of massive pressure from the manage-
chronicled the events in BL over the last few weeks. His diary of resistance has now reached its sad finale.
(Socialist Challenae' PAT HICKEY, until last week depu- SD1,