Nobody spared

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WORKERS over 60 years of age, many never worked on a production line, are be jobs which young, fi. workers struggle to h they are switched from day shift to night sl They are told: "That is the jun. If you In the Cowley Assembly Plant, the 'Ed as they are known to local manager, reache dehumanisation by attacking the invalids These work in what is known as the pan Management have gone into the panel r urised them, particularly those who can Under the 'plant audit' clause negotiated officials and the TUC when they sold out last year, hundreds of non-production j Subscribe up of seniority agreements - the plant. audit placed in Edwardes' hands complete control over manning levels.

The trade union movement in the plants now scarcely retains even any input on the levels of effort demanded or the production lines. The result has been a huge increase: ir exploitation on the tracks - and a consequent massacre of jobs in the major plants.

1982 has seen ruthless attacks on working conditions, including the axing of rest allowances, the effective outlawing of shop stewards' activity, and yet another wage-cutting pay settlement wear down the confidence and smash the organisation of BL shop floor workers.

Gangster

Edwardes has now moved on to give his attention to the nrivatisation of the WALL MIA. telecommunications industry and the destruction of thousands more jobs in that sector.

By sanctioning the victimisation of Alan Thornett, and risking a stoppage the cost of which could run into millions, his successor Sir Austin Bide has underload then front thant are tartar unea te act cnal nu new regime is to be established - the gangster tactics used by Edwardes are to continue:

They can only be ended by the kind of action which management and union officials both fear - all out, tenacious strike action to defend each and every threatened shop steward defend and restore hard won agreements, and la" the basis for further strugg les against BL management and their Tory sponsors. time.

leave"

the disabled and the blind.

they do light sub-assemblies.

go onto production jobs.

abolished.

Rates: f5 for three Rates: £5 for three months, £8:75 for six months, and £16 for a year.

Bundle of five

each week: £12 for three months.

Bundle of 10: £2 for three months.

Namo.....

«Address............

I endosa £ To: Socialist Organi, 307, 28 Middle Lara London N8 8PL. of whom have ing forced onto old. Sometimes hift at the same u can't hold it, Iwardes Mafia' id a new level of in the plant -el room' , where room and presswalk or see, to 1 by the national the wage claim jobs have been

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boçalist INDUST organiser SPECIA BEHIND THE COWLEY DEAD MAN HAVE ANY ENEMIES?"

no.109 November by Peters BL see the sacking of Alan Thornett as a major strategic move in relation to the future of the Cowley plant.

They are trying to finally resolve the contradiction which has existed for some time between their decision to develop the Cowley complex into a major production area, with a capacity of up to ¾ million cars a year, and the militant history of the plant.

LUKE FOR MORKERS DEPT.