[ALAN. Thornett, nationally known and witch-hunted in the…]

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ALAN. Thornett, nationally known and witch-hunted in the Tory press as a Tre skyist militant, and for over 20 years a TGWU shop steward in the transport a partment of BL's Cowley Assembly Plant, was last week sacked by manageme This attack on Thornett, a central figure in the organisation and struggles the trade union movement on the plant, is part of the BL management's relentle war of attrition on trade union kights throughout the corporation. Below i reprint the Cowley shop stewards' response to the management charges: in ti next three pages we examine the background to this latest brazen victimisation.

1. Management have failed to give a single other example of disciplinary actio of any kind being taken against a driver for breaking road traftic regulations ovi Even extreme cases resulting in lengthy driving bans - obviously for offencr far more serious than a lapsed licence — have not led to disciplinary action. In far drivers have been found alternative driving work inside the plant until the bar have expired. Other drivers found to have lapsed licences were never subject 1 This means that Alan Thornett is being. treated differently to anyone els 2. Management and drivers have a joint legal responsibility to ensure that lice ces are kept up. How can BL sack someone for something for which they hat equal responsibility under law? They have failed to keep any records or mainta any procedures to ensure that licences are up to date. If they had done so, th 3. If victimisation is to be avoided, the punishment must fit the crime. Ali Thornett was guilty of a minor road traffic offence, given two points on the ne penalty scale, and carrying no other penalty (assuming the police prosecute, sını He was fully qualified and entitled to an HGV licence, and was able to obta one as soon as the oversight came to light. What he did was a mistake, but in r 4. Management are stressing the four years of the lapse for maximum effer But he was not driving HGV vehicles during that period, but non-HGV vehicle mostly inside the plant: this made the oversight easier, since he didn't legally net the licence during that period. He was switched back to heavy vehicles just befo 5. The sick note (self-certification) allegation is thrown in to sow confusic and suggest corruption. In fact the note was for one day and involved no mon‹ from BL or from the state. Alan Thornett was sick, but was driven to the Ea Midlands Traffic Office in the afternoon to renew his licence. He coud not ha This is not just a matter of one man's job. It is part of the 'management of fea If they can get away with sacking a prominent steward of 20 years' standiı The TGWU has given five days' notice of strike action. After that, if there is 1 change in the attitude of management, the union will be recommending action Issued by Cowley Assembly Plant TGWU Shop Stewards Subcommittee, 15.11.1 OPEN 3 B - 4000 : after a parking offence revealed his HGV licence to be out of date. The TGWU has objected to this sacking on the following grounds:

the last 20 years.

discipline of any sort.

making it a clear case of victimisation.

would not have arisen.

they sometimes don't bother with such offences).

way can it be seen as a sacking offence.

the parking offence which led to the situation.

been in work driving a heavy vehicle.

from which everyone is suffering in the plant.

over a minor mistake, then whose job is safe?