'Communist stewards' praised by Edwardes Robinson's record: Stalinism in action

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Robinson 1 must say Longbridge workers march against the Social Contract On August 20 the WSL sent an Open Letter to the leadership of the Communist Party on their role in the Garners Strike. Below we reprint their reply, and raise some of the questions it fails to answer. cargill speaking at the 'Rank and File TUC' According to Leyland members are no problem at all to his In an interview last week with the Daily Mirror, Edwardes refuted the argument that the CP are responsible for strikes or struggles in defence of agreements in Leyland:

"Does he spy Reds under the Company's bed?

'No, no.. I don't subscribe to any conspiracy theory, he says. 'Not at PhOTO: John Sturrock, Report September 1975: 32 handpicked convenors chosen by management for an 'Ad-hoc Committee' meet with management at the plush Allesley Hotel in Coventry to finalise proposals for workers' participation in line with the Ryder Report. The final "vote" includes those from representatives of foremen and management.

September 6 1975: Robinson as Chairman of the BMC Combine Committee rules out of order a motion to reject the Ryder plan, declaring that the decision had already been taken' Apri 1976: Moves begin towards national-level corporate bargaining in Leyland, stamping out shop floor control. Robinson, with no discussion on Combine, declares himself in favour.

June 1976: Joint management/ union 'Ad-hoc' Committee set up to establish basis for corporate bargaining.

Summer 1976: Robinson moves resolution on Longbridge JSSC to prevent any section "impeding production" until procedure exhausted.

August 1976: Robinson joins managements' 'Quality 77" campaign in a statement indistinguishable from • managing director Whittacker.

PHOTO: John Sturrock, Report Autumn 1976: Robinson carries vote on Longbridge JSSC and forces through ballot to accept 40% speed up on new Mini.

January 1977: Robinson chairs convenors' meeting which votes 3-1 to endorse 'fringe benefit' document including no-strike clauses and joint management/ union disciplinary committees. February 1977: This document overwhelmingly thrown out by Leyland workers in mass meetings and stewards meetings. Calls for the resignation of the convenors who endorsed it. February 1977: Robinson declares opposition to strikers in Leyland: "The worst thing that can happen to British Leyland all. If anything, I would say that the Communist Shop Stewards in Leyland are among the most efficient, concerned and reliable."

Edwardes is not the first Leyland boss to single out the CP for such enthusiastic praise.

His predecessor, Sir Richard Dobson, made some extremely complimentary statements about Stalinist convenor Derek Robinson in his ill-fated secret speech 'leaked' last year by Socialist Challenge:

"I happen to know the chief convenor ai Longbridge. He is an avowed I rather like August 1977: New management plans for reform of pay bargaining, with parity linked to speed-up, narrowly rejected by full meeting of convenors. Management decide to go over heads of convenors and put plans to ballot vote.

August 1977: Under pressure from shop floor, Longbridge stewards submit 20% pay claim -which includes acceptance of speed-up and penalty clauses. Management refuses separate pay talks. Workers demonstrate demanding negotiations, with sectional votes for strike action. Robinson, with no mass meeting, calls strike for August Communist Party of Great Britain, Executive Committee, 16 King Street, London WCZE 8HY.

Dear Comrades, him because he is fairly good at getting people Robinson is an Executive member of the Communist Party. Yet he is also co-Chairman of Leyland's reactionary 'participation' set up, designed to suck stewards into management.

Since Robinson is yet again in the forefront of moves to head off Leyland carworkers-this time on the wages front-Socialist Press has produced a potted history of Robinson's record over the last three years to indicate to carworkers the real meaning of Stalinist class collaboration. 29 and declares "50-1" support. Then seizes on right wing march as pretext to call off action, despite 2-1 majority for strike. October 1977: Dobson praises October 1977: Fraudulent management ballot "endorses" pay proposals. Robinson begins to prepare for corporate bargaining in 1978.

February 1978: 400 managers and convenors at Kenilworth vote with only five against to back Edwardes' plan for speedup and 12,500 redundancies. Robinson declares full support. April 1978: The news breaks of the strike, in advocating the strikers' case and in mobilising assistance for them.

We will continue to give militant support to these workers in the days ahead. that a sub-committee of the participation set-up chaired by Robinson drew up the plans for axeing the 'low productivity' Speke plant and cutting 1,800 jobs at Longbridge. April 1978: Ballot vote rejects management incentive scheme. April 1978: 'Left' speech from Robinson plays key role in diverting Speke mass meeting away from vote for occupation. May 1978: Robinson ensures that second Speke mass meeting hears that right-wing led Canley workers had voted to accept work from Speke. This helps secure vote to accept voluntary redundancy.

Edwardes June 1978: joint management/ union disciplinary inquiry launched at Longbridge into two stewards victimised by management for striking in defence of agreements. Robinson argues against supporting strike.

September 1978: Plant claims of £27 from Cowley factories highlight secret plans by Robinson and Combine Committee right wing to introduce corporate bargaining a year earlier than agreed, by submitting a back-door "common claim"

September 1978: Edwardes praises "Communist stewards"

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boss Michael Edwardes, Communist Party

plans for speed up, redundancies and wage

*AI IFL PHOTO: Dave Evans, IFL