company figures the plant's productivity has risen by OVer per cent.
Yet in the same time thousands of jobs have been lost and pay levels have decreased by thirty per cent in real terms. However these figures only tell half the story.
Direct production areas such as the produc tion track have increased their productivity way excess figures quoted above. It is arcas that earn the much talked-about bonus just for themselves but for the whole factory.
These areas consistently reach maximum bonus Mass meeting at BL earlier this month payment targets and exSIROSL Yet it was only last bonus payment of £22.50 was paid out for the first time ever. Ironically it was paid out during a week in which a strike over furThe company has used this catch-all phrase to try to force us into accepting a loss of 11 minutes rest per day shift as well as a cut in labour and an increase track speeds.
Following the return to work after the sell-out workers at a meeting on November in the House of Commons. Staffa's 390 workers are now in the eighth week of their within the week •the establishment of a steering committee, Workers f Staffa representatives Greater London Council to direct the campaigr • MPs to be organised to go to picket lines regularly In discussion of the issues involved in the fight to save the Leyton plant, which is owned by Brown Sharpe, ÚS-based company, Stan Orme declared: 'Your problems are the same as Laurence Scott in Manchester and Linwood in Scotland.
Masks can Chou desperate the employers have become. At Laurence Scott when they used helicopters to break the picket line, .the men. who CAB over the pay claim the management obviously chose Longbridge weak link in the chain of BL plants.
they didn't bargain with was the fact that in general the direct jumped out had masks on, film like in a James Bond He went on, 'I am the shadow industry spokesperson in a situation where the government destroying industry. You have my unqualified support, my committed support.
*I am prepared to fight publicly for you. We are fighting for the maintenance of manufacturing base bring end the unemployment of three million people' Dave Green, the convenor eplied: 'This is the sort support we're looking for. I would like this question taken up in the House of also like to add something.
'This campaign has got to be taken up in all the unions. need blacking campaign in every union. It we can get the support of London MPs the embargo, ana then we'll win.
The problem of job loss in the London are production areas such the track, who suffer the worst working conditions, voted to reject the pay offer and went back to work undefeated, full of determination not to be sold ou again by their national officials. again George Antony, president of the London North district of the AUEW reported that his membership From 35,000g0no had down to 15,000 in a few years.
He urged 'have a go saying 'this dispute is a beacon London This will attempted to force their proposals on the 39 hou week directly onto the following the worklorce. failure to agree and procedure a national level, it was th stewards who had been most active around the pay claim strike who organised the shop meetings which resist the management's imposition with strike action.
Small losses rest allowanci labour levels and small increases may not sound very significant.
but when • the jeve is movement on the job timed to a fraction of a setrack is a • either have a cup of tea or go to the toilet , you cannot do DICCIOuS especially night shift which is 10¼ hours long.
Furthermore winning a MIKE TURNER dispute like this one is an important step towards re establishing the confidence of the shor stewards BL who have taken a real Dealing along with the member.
Photo:
ShID OYCE the past tou years.
That this dispute is of significance not only to all BL workers who will be next in line for the chop if the Longbridge dispute is beaten but for all workers who are struggling Tory tacks yet find the gap between sick | 1001 and the union leaders their first biggest problem. the balance of forces bet ween Staffa workers and the management and between all workers and all bosses.' Last week the bosse went on an offensive of their own, writing letters all . workers They recommended that the strikers go back to work, and provided ballot paper to vote on the issue.
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THE shadow cabinet minister for industry, Stan Orme, declared his 'unqualified' support
both in the time they give you Every second of rest is
starting 'Dear dismissed...