So the story of the strike-mad, lazy Leyland workers is a myth. But there is a reason myth reasons benine the car workers' actions.
In early October 1976, Leyland DOsS Whittaker threatened Longoriage workers win ine sack if they did not commit themselves to making productivity Mini comparable to that on other suld cals. Inc sEcwarus DTODOSCU unis to a mass meeting ane oy a vote of four to one the workers agreed.
blackmail and friends, goes hand-in-hand with Leyland workers Snarine in the cenera decine mr Workins omisino and as Figures 1972 particularly revealing:
TABLE 1 Wages at Longbridge:
Year oo room -Producion 1972 +46 1973 £45 £46 1976 E63.30 £61.80 Compare this *rise' in rise in prices. Prices risen by just under 62 per cent from December 1972 to December 1976 he wares or the too room workers on the other hand rose by under 38 per cent. Is it any wonder they are ne taole above shows mnat ine ditterences 1n rates. Derween toolroom workers and those in the production line haven't changed as muca as tue press nave pretchuca When papers such as the Dai Express express sympathy with the it is obvious that something is afoot. The Expres old trick Irving to divide worker worker - taking up the cause of the skilled worker against those unskilled But this is not the rea toolmakers throughout the country.
rea Toolmakers' wage rates:
British Leyland Rover. Solihull Jaguar Radford Castle Bromwich SU Carburetto:
Drew ane birm Longbridge Swindon Eisew nere Massey rerousor Rolls Royce Dunlop This is the justice 1976 are Too makers cemanes or Countywide parity; a parity which would one penny away from either line workers workers at better-paid Leyland fac some time now, Leyland bosses have agreed to uniform throughout the country. When Ley. land switched from piece work to wages measured cav work there was a have clear understanding that wage levels each other. The reason they have not been is admitted by The Times of 22 rebruary:.. . the operation or pay restraint has made it impossible for management to honour these underIn 6 takings Whether the general drop in tne issues of Leyland workers, same Callaghan, Healey, Jones.
of The smashing of the Social Contract agains is une most necessary DEcoRdon Tor une aevance or cey are workers But there is an offered is the difference in the wages rate of ate bargaining. At face value there seems to be much to recommend the nerotiatine team tor the Levanc workers, uniting all the work force and agreeing to a common r £71.40 date for all wage negotiations 460 80 £66.55 whole series of flaws. £66.30 It would mean: would, inevitably, be in the hands of 200.20.
E634. lui ume officials, rar removea anc £63.20 not accountabletoineshoo door £62.16 It would mean the same type of trade the Social Con Trick would be gated 184.48 even greater powers or negoalion £81.00 than they have at present.
It would mean behind the such as articull to De representea m negotiations - it is because have found it impossible to representation even under rent system that they are demanding separale bargaining rIgnts rates it would megn that it tor examn e: national agreement was found unacceptable by, say, 40 per cent uncstand worKers. maiority had accepted. the would he minority would find it very difficult line with agreement accepted by the majority The real sufferers under system woule be me snoo steward. movement, who involved in open to control from the shop floor are less able to indulge in the sort of Or the ButacKs on their standards which the bureaucracies have sanctioned in the last couple of years Contac scanion and Insicad ol and instead one socia con. rIck workers in the car industry can fight back by demanding An maculate alternative being collective bargaming. boln ar nation al and plant level.
But in negotiations special sections would find it SUCH they of occause SUCH by being directly members trade evels say, of toolroom iate nationally, corporate oargainins gaining and is a rigne be defended.
ECLULH to free work force to be represented at all negotiation he rioht COn- TrICK for national rates, samea corporale bar Which musi FISCS WIL DRICC * For an immediate levelling up' of Lev and.
ro an colate increase HUGH SCANLON fearlessly defends the interests of Government and Leyland management.
earnings suffered which matically guards against inflation for a sliding scale of wages, whic • For the opening of the books of and one! •car manurac establish just who responsible for the present state of motor industry WOrKCES ConITO:
these demands which Leyland That is the acon dals oes way to nut raase s. ane! the best way to taht the isolation in their
Деша IN ITS JOURNAL Public Employees, the National Union Public Employees has proudly prices.
Contrast this inflation rate resulting from the in every per cent argument they have nevwiivto turn nese worker. against the 'greedy' higher paid
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sections of workers throughout the country of all the car industry.
which the bureaucracy are trying to impose on the toolmakers