Cowley workers challenge Edwardes' boot boys

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Anger has built up as management have imposed an authoritarian regime on the shop floor worsened. every deal with union time you will be instantly stree Debates on: Is Russia a

WORKERS in British Ley

plant walked out again to being back to work for only They had been on strike for a week after the plant director had abused and intimidated a worker on the track and threatened him with disciplinary action.

The 1,000 workers involrow majority to accept a formula put to them by fuli time officials. Two hours after they had returned to work, the plant director went onto the track and tried to intimidate the same man. The track walked out.

The strike is important because the incident was a symptom of something which is now very deep, the vicious attack by the government and the employers against industrial workers over the past few years.

• BL's management has been pushed forward by the Tory government - and the Labour government before it - into the spearhead of that attack. How it was done is important, since the operation is now being generalised throughout industry, not least in car components.

Edwardes set out to gain control of the plants through systematically building up his authority. Systematically it was done thanks to repeated sell-outs by the trade unions at the top.

'Unbeatable' Cynical sell-outs in the 1979, 1980 and 1981 wage reviews gave Edwardes the so-called 'unbeatable' reputation he needed. At the same time he pushed through extensive new "agreements' which stripped away all trade union rights.

Protective agreements such as seniority agreements were ended, complete mobility was introduced, and the trade union struotures were substantially dismantled. The vast majority of fulltime trade union positions in the plants were abolished.

The pressure has been greatest in the car assembly complexes.

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8th) after By sion is backed by those at the top, and imposed ruthlessly. Any manager not prepared to operate these methods is sacked, and usually humiliated in the process.

This has created appalling conditions Tine TraCKs. Manning levels have been cut repeatedly, , relief times cut, and facilities and conditions The trade unions are barely recognised, and shop stewards rarely released to unlalleis Top managers constantly patrol the tracks, rushing 3pm at Thornhill Neighbourhood Project, Orkney House, Caledonian Rd. Next meeting November 14. Details. Nik, 607 5268.

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Workers are abused and threatened with disciplinary action or the sack when things happen which are completely outside their control. of them were very short.

If a part will not fit, a manager will arrive and threaten to sack someone until it does.

When these conditions result in strikes, management respond in the same way.- wIll dismiss you'... with threats and intimidation. dismissed'... etc.

Last September they began a policy of sending BAN PLASTIC BULLETS, a REPRESSION in Northern Labour movement delegate Ireland: day school organised conference, planned for Manchester, February '83. ittee on Ireland, Saturday Sponsors include LCI, Bern- November 13, 10.30am to adette McAliskey, Ken Liv- 5pm, Queen Margaret Union ingstone. More sponsorship Building, Glasgow University. needed from LP/TU bodies. Speakers - Dennis Canavan Contact Martin Collins MP, Vince Mills, Derry TC c/o Box 15,- 164/6 Corn member - plus workshops. Exchange, Manchester M3 Admission £1, 50p unwaged. 4BN. LONDON Workers' Socialist League educationals on basic HARINGEY Labour Party Marxism. Next one. 'ImperYoung Socialists public jalism'. Friday November 12, meeting: Solidarity with the 7.30pm. For details of venue people of Central America. write to WSL, PO Box 135, Monday November 15, 7.30 London N1 ODD. at Brabant Road TU and DISCUSS the 'degenerated Community Centre.

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The 1981 wage review -against the sell-out ently management are disciplining the deputy convenor, Andy Brown, and threaten to withdraw all his facilities.

Shop stewards find it impossible to get off their jobs to represent members.

No information is given, and every action of management is arbitrary.

Shop stewards' meetings have been virtually banned, and shop stewards are disciplined if they criticise the threatening letters to every- company in writing or in involved in unofficial public. strike action. They claimed In a strong trade union plant, this regime, imposed there had been 56 strikes on the plant since May - which not by breaking the spirit of the workers but by buying is not surprising given the conditions, although most off the leadership at the top, was bound to lead to an explosion. And last week it Since then the letters have been building up, and did.

On Monday night (November 1), a worker on the will take disciplinary action Rover track was sworn at and threatened with disciagainst you'... 'Next time we pline for alleged bad workmanship, and the track walked out demanding an Shop stewards have faced apology. constant intimidation. Curr- By Tuesday night the action had spread to the whole North Works (which

JOHN HARRIS

owley workers lobby convenors be no letters sent out, victimisation, as a result this particular strike.

At the mass meeting on Monday 8th, after very strong pressure from the platform, and two votes, a majority was declared for a return to work on this formula.

Then management repeated the same intimidation two hours later! This shows their sheer arrogance. It was a declaration that their strategy was intact, and their methods would not change.

The workers were furious. They struck again, in a very angry mood. Management representatives who tried to observe the meeting were chased off.

They know that on the tracks they -are paying the price every day for the union leaders' catalogue betrayals.

They, however, are far from broken. They need and deserve leaders worthy of the strength they display.

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