Singer workers reject sackings
Socialist Press1978 1978-07-05Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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The determination and militancy of the working class was again shown last Tuesday when the 5,000 workers at Singer's Clydebank factory voted at a mass meeting to reject the company's plan for mass cut-backs and mass redundancies.
Yet again the problems of leadership in the fight to defend jobs were clear, in the stewards' alternative proposal-the maintenance of industrial sewing machine production and a large-scale investment AUEW convenor John McFadyen had correctly said the company wanted the union to help them implement the plan.
But his only reply is to put forward an alternative capitalist plan, thus telling workers that they have a joint interest with the employers.
On the contrary, the policy needed is to prepare for an occupation of the plant the moment the first of the proposed 2,800 redundancies is declared.
The central demands of the occupation should be work-sharing work sharing on full pall opening Singers and other demands that lead to the nationalisation of the whole industty under workers management.
This policy should be put before an immediate mass meeting. Singer workers must learn the lessons of the betrayal of Speke. Lack of leadership leads to defeat.
Behind the decision of Rover transport drivers to accept the sacking of shop steward Tony Tombes are issues of far-reaching implications for BL workers.
Tombes was convicted in court of using a tax disc from a car formerly owned by British Leyland on his own private car.
Lost nothing
But despite the fact that Leyland itself had lost nothing, Tombes hil iself recommended the retu n to work, thus accepting the management's action.
The importance of the incident is that it once again emphasises the offensive now being conducted by Leyland management against the shop stewards movement.
Sinister
And there is new, sinister development.
Prior to his appearance in court, Tombes appeared before a joint unionmanagement disciplinary committee. He was found 'guilty' by them.
This is the same type of committee which has been established at Longbridge to "investigate" two shop