Chrysler reprieve
Socialist Press1979 1979-04-21Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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HELLO JIM BOYO, CLIVE HERE-I'VE BEEN THINKING from the CPSA in Scotland could be heard correctly denouncing selective strikes as "a complete and utter bloody fraud"
Monday's debate on salary policy for 1980-81 saw Mark Convenors at Chrysler UK's Stoke Engine Plant, Coventry, reported to a mass meeting last Friday on negotiations over the future of 1200 workers laid off since January.
The lay-offs were due to the suspension of production at the plant in Iran which assembles kits made in Britain.
Although production resumes in Iran on May 31 and "the company was 'optimistic', workers were not likely to be recalled until July-and this was not definite.
The convenors have been thrown a life-line by the Labour government in the shape of a new scheme which came into force on April 1 and which appears to be an extension of the Temporary Employment Subsidy.
Government grant Under the scheme any firm declaring more than 10 redundancies can apply to the governPLACE...) ...WE WOULD CRACK DOWN ÖN UNOFFICIAL STRIKERS BY CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY MYMENTS TO THEIR FAMILIES... •YEAH! THAT WOULD ANSWER THOSE LEYLAND TOOLROOM ...WE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE FUNDS TO ELECT ALL UNION OFFICIALS BY POSTAL BALLOT!
OH CHRIST-ELECTIONS FOR ALL OFFICIALS? WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY PLAYING AT?! ment for up to 75% of the. normal weekly wage for any worker at work for one or more days a week.
After a hectic series of meetings with management the Department of Employment, ACAS and local 'left' MPs, the convenors were able to persuade management to apply for this temporary subsidy and provisionally signed a joint appeal to the Department of Employment. (They came to the mass meeting for support for this action).
Work sharing
The company was then persuaded to increase the 75% to 85% from their own pockets.
The conveners then negotiated a plan for work-sharing which involved a return to work on April 23.
The 'actual work-sharing has involved significant re-organisation of gangs, the implications of which are not as yet clear.
The wages to be paid go from £70.73 a week for a grade one worker working a one day week upwards. This compares with a £79 a week normal wage. The plan was accepted almost unanimously.
The closing speeches stressed the role of the Labour government in "saving jobs" at Chrysler and workers were urged to remember this on May Several questions remain open. The convenors stressed the temporary nature of the solution.
What do they have to offer if the Iran: contract does not recover the levels of production which are planned?
Also why did the government agree to this massive hand-out without a clear and open examination of Chrysler's books?
And why, if Chrysler didn't have the money, was it not nationalised?
The plan has yet to be agreed by the Department of Employment and even if it is, the fundamental problems remain unanswered.
... PICKETS WOULD BE RESTRICTED IN NUMBERS - AND. ONLY ALLOWED OUTSIDE THEIR OWN PLACES OF WORK..
BUT MOSS HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR THAT LINE FOR AGES!
NOW THAT WOULD END THAT GARNERS NOWSENSE!
ABOUT THE TORY MANIFESTO -I'VE DECIDED TO DONATE YET ANOTHER £50,000 70 YOUR ELECTION FUND!
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WRECKERS ALRIGHT! H'MMM 44401112