in this country. in the present strike.
Since last March, Leyland management in Speke have been trying to push the line speed up from 14% cars per hour 1o 1732 Cars. DONE I two month strike, it estimated that 400 workers have left Speke to take other jobs. Many stewards say that because these workers have lett there is no way the line spoods could now run at 17%2 cars per hour. which certainly proves that British Leyland mean to mutuality agreements as well.
COMPONENT LACK Speke plant workers, now in the second strike, came back to work in November after layoff, caused by a lack of components due to the Lucas toolroom workers strike. Within one hour of returning 750 production workers walk ed out when management tried to up the score to 17 cars per hour.
A section of the shop stewards' committee wanted to occupy the factory but senior stewards swayed the vote Over last weekend the news leaked out that British Leyland's new boss Michael Edwardes is planning to sack up to 30,000 workers in the next 18 months. This represents one quarter of all Leyland's workforce and is the biggest threat so far to the future of carworkers Edwardes has already threatened the Standard Triumph Speke plant in Liverpool with closure, But the threat is seen as a bluff by the shop stewards committee at the number two plant - an attempt to smash the current strike at Speke over manning levels. TOMMY HEALEY, former deputy convenor at Standard Triumph Speke, outlines what is at stake against this. What took place Insical was a pictor de gates. The picket was made up OfY or shop stewards, and l not insolve the rank and file.
When a mass meeting was called, it voted to continue the But Full-time trade union officials in the transport workers workers unions had been bending over backwards to sell it out by making deals with management, to agree to the and new manning levels.
The shop stewards" commnice turned down te scape and was supported by TGWU. Talks with ACAS are Grunwickst) and Labour MPs on Merseyside have made fine speeches, But words won't thwart Leyland's first real attack on manning.
WHIZ KID The British Leyland attack on manning has started.
Dran 1D cut TATE BETEL throughout the British Leyland Combine has promised by the executive. Now, with whiz kid Michaci Edwardes at the head it has chosen Speke, whic model, as a first nut to crack.
ONE-CAR PLANT Speke was chosen for a number of reasons: it is one-car plant producing the TR7 (but the number one plant does produce the body for the Dolomite which is finished ar Canley in Coventry).
Leyland hoped for, so Speke's ER Is not a large Pome co like the Mini or Allegro. the Anotber reason B that workers weakeneL by had veek's work since Augus The workers at Speke are also one of the tea plants who voted overwhelmingly against engincering the Leyland plan for corporate bargaining This given all plant-by-plant ballo 202094 when results by the Electoral Reform the ballot results was never given the committee or the trade union So this is no one-off strike: it is a ruiness compan bi Levland to rip agreements throughout the combine on manning, If Speke it defented, Coventry, Oxford or Longhridge will be next. Every trick is being used by the Leyland management smash the strike. threatening ciosure. The dirty The tricks department has putting out callels alleged signatures. he Leyland DECE SCHOs who want lo Drcak the strike could have an effect
COMBHILE
meetings which involve TRT sport:
happening at The TR7 Coventry) who close.
at Speke have been lay-offs, only the action.
Leyland Company square in London up existing including the shop stewards call more mass the rank and file, instead of playing the wait and see tactic.
If the warkers at Speke win the strike it would put hack the plan to smash manning levels and close down other plants. To win this strike. They must support of CONCI Leyland factories. The workers SEES ALBEC MUSTANC fall information on what is Speke. It must not be left to the likes of Eddy MeGarry (TWU conventor at waits like a vulture to see if Speke will The strike at Speke can be won if the action is spread throughout the combine, and Speke workers have to spread the action. Now that Leyland executive say they will close the plant, it is vital for the shop Stewards committee to spread Edwardes and sit in Berkeley They have the full backing of the Labour Government for the plans lor manning cuts, redundinacies.
But 6,000 workers make a mighty flying picket — to Coventry, Oxford Longbridge — or London. exist, doctors' anti-abortion