Fred Stanley, Longbridge worker: 'The vote was disgraceful, I'm on the sick at present and to be honest, I'm better off Longbridge worker: shall not go back to work now, they can and sickened about How can I live on a wage like that and see my kids running The crowd was disgruntlcalls 'split vote caused the convenor pause and consult the shop stewards on the plattorm.
Only two disagreed about une vole The convenor closed the meeting and trundled out the gales. wondered what the vote would have been if the unions had handed out a leaflet and if the senior steward had taken up the political arguments. did,' Culen be there was another matter By TGWU shop steward, Longbridge ON MONDAY 2 November Leyland's Longbridge plant which had voted for strike action on l6 October was brought to a complete standstill by mass pickets. The militant response of the workforce to tawardes' threats to sack us was shown as pickets spat out their anger at the management and staff who crossed the picket lines The mass pickets turned away the few who tried to cross the picket lines and as soon as the plant was closed up we immediately set about the union full time leaders who had tried to stitch up a deal over the weekend with ACAS and the management.
We had found out that all BL senior shop stewards and union officials, cluding Ken Cure union and Grenville transport union, were meeting in the centre of Birmingham at the AUEW offices to discuss the so-called offer the company had made over the weekend. said transport union steward, Bob No time for long discussions; it was off to the picket line. How long we would Edwardes As stewards went in barracking For nothing inthe meeting to continue.
Hawley rejecting the deal. more information fill in the form below Name..
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Having lived through so many sell-outs in the past, especially those organised by the AUEW officials, workers were furious at the officials manoeuvring with and coming up with a dea which jell so short of the original de mand. We organised some pickets from Longbridge to go down to the meeting and were joined there by workers from Cowley, Oxford and Rover Solihull.
the officials and senior shop we gave them such a that they were left in no doubt as to what we thought of them and their deal. Deafening chants of '£20 now 'and Reject the deal' at tracted almost as much attention from passers by as they did from the hordes oj TV and press reporters.
When we realised that some officials had sneaked in round the back we decided to invite ourselves into the meeting. More chanting and barracking ended on ly when Jack Adams, Longbridge convenor, and Bobby Fryer, convenor from Cowley, appealed to the workers to allow Our efforts were not wasted. The meeting adjourned after four hours with an overwhelming majority in favour of Challenge If you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1
started in his job.
redundancies, that they were saving BL's future.
a plan to save BL but to destroy it.
When the ballot on his plan MICHAEL EDWARDES has been holding the threat of closure over BL workers since he He promised to put BL back on its feet in three years. Until now the workforce has standards, and killing speed-ups in the belief But Michael Edwardes is /ying: his plan is not 'The close Soft trim Firth Furnishings Coventry Sheet stee Souih Sates Corporation Dampers Girling West Bromwich Wheels Dunlop Birmingham Tyre Dunlop Birmingham Seat Callow and Maddox Body pressings Battery LONgDTIORe (bL International Paint Triplex Birmingham Clutch Automotive Products Leamington Spa Carburettors SU Fuel Systems (BL Longbridge (BL)
Drivestafts He we Misans Bearing RHP Bearings Chelmstord Castings Ley's Mallabie Casting Derby
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sack me if they like. I'm not getting paid enough. I take home £54 without bonus
Socialist MORNING STAR