FORD'S 54,000 workers are once again in the front line of the fight against government pay policy.
and better pensions has been rejected out of hand by the company. In its place Ford are offering a vicious productivity deal.
At stake is not only a wage cut but thousands of jobs. Greater mobility of labour between jobs, an end to demarcation and co-operation the troduction and WULK methods are only part of Ford's "less money more WOlK Payments Plan.
Halewood Merseyside there have been fifteen walk-outs in a seven week period, including a one day all out strike in the transmission plant.
Riot Two stoppages in the last ten days in Dagenham body plant have led to the whole plant being laid off without pay. The current stoppage involves body welders protesting the sacking of two co-workers for alleged clocking offences.
A stoppage in the paint shop over mobility of abour led to widespread Assembly Plant. lay-offs Dagenham ICal riot and further stoppage ensued on the work when workers found that selected inVUL dividuals had been picked garage when everybody else was laid off.
Ford workers are beginning to realise that disputes and unpaid layOLES like Inese will be regular events if the company's Efficiency Payment Plan is accepted.
The aim total management control over line speeds and working Dracules. The choice the mass meetings, Inererore sol between reality on prose terms the war peace, but war will be rougnl paint La clue workers raring to go and simo beld back bv a hesitant union leadership The present disputes are largely defensive reflexes to management provocations. Attacks Short time working has taken a heavy toll in most Was over the last elga teen months leading to the bleeding off of 4,000 jobs. Insecurity has been increased by the lengthening dole queues outside.
Both umon leaders and the stewards' plant leaderships have been unwilling unable WILI where it is no longer possiattacks on staffing levels and by section, plant by plant Jevel.
Political solutions at a national level are now required to deal with many Cars on assembly line at Dagenham are getting smashed up in protest against conditions day to day problems especially the hour week and worksharing without loss of pay to deal with new technology and job loss.
This power to win has to be organised. The days of the sit at home strike are ove Regular mass meetings are needed to fully inform what is happening. stewards committees stone de las ornedto fighting strike commitICCS CALLC the shopfloor and union branches elected to them.
The union organisation must be geared up to win through mass involve ment pickets and delegations to other workplaces.
And Ford workers should not have to fight Claim atter •claim well over the Tories' four per cent limit are pouring in coupled with demands for shorter hours.
Pressure should be applied to the national union leaderships these tion.
Such united would not just force the bosses to retreat and that. cher do a U-turn. It would flush Tories right round the S-bend.
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Their claim for f20 a week more, 35 hours from among them to work