Pickets put on Longbridge future in doubt

Scan page 15

EETPU militants lobbying this year's union conference Time and again Frank Chapple and the right-wing leadership of the EETPU have simply shut down branches protesting at their dictats. The latest is London Central, shut down because it refused to accept an Executive nominee as its branch delegate to Rank and file EETPU members will be lobbying the Union Executive on Sunday September 27, from 4.30pm at the Conference Centre, Brighton, to demand the reopening of London Central and Coaches have been arranged from Birmingham London: for details, phone 01-607 5268.

Howman

ON FRIDAY August 28, while union officials were discussing threatened redundancies with management at Schreiber, Runcorn, the redundancy notices were handed out by supervisors -a week earlier than Schreiber had indicated.

A meeting was called and we decided to picket the gates 24 hours a day from the following Tuesday.

Some workers transferred from the Manchester plant - safe in the knowledge that they were not on the redundancy list - tried to stop the action, but their proposals were beaten in Schreiber had also tried to split the shop stewards' committee by giving notice to three stewards and leaving rest 'safe' On Tuesday morning we turned up for work to find the gates locked to prevent an occupation. However, the picket has been quite successful.

The following morning pickets were sent to the Brindley Rd and White House factories in Runcorn. White House supported us but Brindley Rd did not.

We were also informed on the Wednesday that our action had been made official by FTAT.

ON Saturday, three scab drivers crossed the picket line telling the pickets that they were taking 12 loads out. They took three (worth approximately £70,000) and while they were gone we got picket reinforcements and a camera.

We stood in front wagons (where a policeman told us we legally could) and told the drivers that we had every right to defend ourselves. One picket took photos and told the drivers that these pictures would be distributed throughout the press and to every T&G branch.

Film Eventually a deal was agreed whereby they left and took no more loads, in return for the film.

Donations already received include a tent from a Labour councillor and £65 from the local GMC, but if we are to win we need more. Please send donations and messages of support to Barry Poynton 15 Baxter Close, Murdishaw, Runcorn, Cheshire (cheques payable to Schreiber Workers' Welfare Fund). What is the future of engine production at BL Longbridge? Shop stewards at the plant fear that all engine and transmission production there may soon end - meaning the closure of the Cofton Hackett area, the "Flight Shed" and the North Works with the loss of up to 3,000 jobs.

These fears are based on an article in Car magazine (september issue) about Honda engines being used for the new LM10 model.

"Given the existence of Metro engines up to 1300cc, LM 10 will use the top Metro A-plus unit as its base power plant and will follow up with the 1700 and 2000 O-series. The unloved E-series will be axed (apart from the sixcylinder Princess 2200, it is already confined to the upmarket Allegros and the doomed Maxi). In the longer term, the A-plus will give way to one or more engines from the new range of Honda units - which will also take over in the Metin in three and four cylinder forms."

This would not be the first time that major closures BE demands for workers' control over production.

The Shop Stewards Committee later that week rejected a full overtime ban because they thought the shep floor wouldn't accept it.

Instead they opted for LEACHE have been announced to the press before union representatives have heard about them. Even under the old participation system this occurred on several occasions (the Speke closure, for instance).

Engine It is certainly clear that no engine or transmission development is in the pipeline at BL. The Metro Aseries engine is a 30 year old design.

Does this mean that BL plan to import all their engines and transmissions?

G RHOM R his year's union conference Bermondsey Labour Party.

Birmingham Midland branches.

production for stock, and work-sharing with no loss of The Unemployed Workers' Union leaflet had an impact, and most workers are now refusing overtime.

STEVE AKERS

Or build Japanese designed engines at Longbridge? Or does it herald the end of BL's volume car production altogether?

Instead of sounding off

against the "Japs" (the immediate response of the Longbridge plant leadership) the priority must be to demand that BL opens its books and reveals its future plans to workers' inspection.

And we must :. also prepare to fight for work sharing on tul pay to protect all Longbridge jobs.

Leyland ACTION August 1981 No.

Available from 194, Dawlish Road, Birmingham.

29 (send sae).

----- pull-quotes -----

sIst PAN+ INNOCEN MIDLA YOU! O.K CATE

SPEN CRAPPU