The BL strike that doesn't exist!

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7 1 24 4 1 1 2 2 31 18 1 25 26 WHAT'S "BUILD A FIGHTING LEFT!" iocialist Organiser Publi Tuesday October 20 at 7.30 pm Speakers Alan Thorett: (TGWU Deputy Convenor BL Cowley Assembly Plant in a personal capacity)

Rachel Lever (Secretary, Women's Fightback Campaign)

Dr Johnson House Colmore Circus, BIRMINGHAM ABOUR AND THE FIGH FOR JOBS Thursday 22 October 7.30 pm North Islington Library, Manor Gardens, off Holloway Road Speakers include Laurence Scotts (invited)

Alan Thornett Mick Woods (St Mary's Hospital Occupation ComLAST December 12 workers and shop stewards were sacked by Michael Edwardes at the Longbridge plant. The Metro was brought to standstill in their defence and every national newspaper made it headlines for weeks.

The TV screamed that militant workers were once again about to bring BL to its knees.

The media was openly used • to undermine those victimised, strengthen Edwardes and hopefully, break the strike.

Today in Cowley, the production lines of the two new models, the • Honda Acclaim and the Morris Ambassador have been at a standstill for well over a week with hardly a mention in the press or on the TV networks.

After a week on strike a few paragraphs have begun to appear tucked away somewhere inside the papers, just about registering that the strike is taking place.

Why is this? The strike is actually more damaging to BL than last year's Metro strike. The Honda Acclaim is a major new model and it involves the Ambassador as well.

The answer that the Acclaim launch actually this week. This causes acute embarrassment to BL. How do you launch a new car when the production line is at a standstill?

Fleet orders, which they hope will come with the publicity surrounding the jaunch are difficult to obtain if the cars aren't being produced.

Customers are unlikely to get enthusiastic about a car which is impossible to obtain.

It is true that 6,500 Acclaims have already been produced, but that only amounts to a handful in the hands of its distributors.

Now, for a change, MPH launch to go ahead and lines are at a standstill and tha ninnt marrandad me plant surrounutu by pickets.

So Britain's 'free press' who normally produce BL headlines as a reflex action goes silent.

The strings have been pulled, the briefings have taken place and BL policy is effective and uniform throughout all sections of the media.

Unfortunately for BL, influence at this time in the opinion-forming media is not if they mislead even into Denham AT THE end of March 1982 Allegro production at BL Longbridge will be halted. This will mean the closure of the CAB 2 area and the end of 'E' series engine

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Jobs axe