Fords on the warpath

Scan page 11

The spate of sackings at Fords' Langley-as reported in Socialist Press in recent weeks-continued with the white section of the plant.

Dismissed for "sabotage', ', the accusation was only laid three days after the alleged incident, immediately after the section superintendant was griled at a management meeting for not reaching production levels.

The move is part of a national efficiency drive at Fords following disastrous profits in America and 'agreeWHAT'S UP, OFISHALL-YOU'RE LOOKING VERY DOWN!

WELL, I GUESS THIS MECCANO OCCUPATION WILL TAKE WEEKS OF POTENTIALLY EMBARASSING WORK TO UNDO!

...ÄND I DON'T THINK LEN'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE LINE AGAINST STRIKES ON MAY 14TH HERE HE IS ON THE TELLY NOW! ments' made year's in last year's pay Reports at a National Ford Workers Group meeting confirmed management offensives at all the plants.

Walk out The sacking of the steward at Langley was followed by a walk-out by both shifts of his section.

Management immediately laid off the entire plant-at five minutes notice-in a clear act of provocation, designed to direct anger at the striking section.

move backfired on management, but an opportun(MAY 14TM?. OF COURSE ITS NOT A GENERAL STRIKE TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT! WHERE APPROPRIATE, City was missed to build organised opposition to the lay off. • The next day, however, many lines refused to start work without guarantees of pay, and it took threats of instant dismissal in some cases to get a return to work.

The stewards' committee, meeting that same morning, decided with only three votes against, to recommend to a mass meeting in two days time-a Friday-strike action of the entire plant to demand reinstatement of the sacked steward.

The committee's position was undermined, however, by right wing stewards who camAS IF I'M NOT ALREADY PUSHED TO BREAKING-POINT BY THE STUBBORNESS OF THE STEELMEN...

paigned against the recommendation, seeing it as an opportunity to undermine the growing strength of the left in the plant.

Two-to-one vote The vote of both shifts at the mass meetings went 2-1 against strike action and has dealt a blow to the authority of the stewards committee and trade unionism at Langley.

Threats by militant stewards to resign following the vote have now to be opposed. The effect of such a step would be to weaken the workers and thus play entirely into the hands of management.

NOW-NOWOF ALL TIMES BLOODY SCARGILL HAS TO MUSCLE IN ON POOR OLD ROY...

AND THERE'S MORE GOOD NEWS: THE LABOUR NEC IS GOING TO MUSH UP ABOUT THE C.I.A - ÂND GO FULL-BLAST ON LORD UNDERHAND'S REPORT! DRINKS ON ME!

Scan page 12

PRESS

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

sacking. last week of a steward from the body-in-

I HOPE BRITISHERS WILL TAKE LUNCH-TIME OFF... GOOD OLD LEN!)