Massey Strike
Socialist Press1977 1977-02-02Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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Assembly workers at Massey Ferguson are continuing their stand against management attempts to impose 20% speed-up on two new tracks at the Coventry plant.
It is over five weeks since management took 136 assembly workers off the clock for alleged "slow working"
The rest of the 1,000 plus assembly force immediately cane out in support.
While the machine shop voted against support this was by no means unanimous and where the case was argued by machine shop stewards support was won for the assembly men.
Workers on picket duty bitterly attacked the management targets.
'The production target of tractors a day is just ridiculous. At the moment we do an average of 40. not on without more labour."
Management is insisting that the men can return to work if they accept the 48 tractors target.
This attack is part of a generalised attempt to speed up production.
"They've taken people off the clock at Manchester and Kilmarnock, now they're doing it here"
Following an occupation of the plant - ended voluntarily by stewards, who led workers out of the plant after management had gained a court order, identity cards have been issued to those still working and extra guards stationed at each gate to prevent the entry of "unauthorised personnel"
Both management and workers are now dug in for a hard battle.
"If we lose this one they'll go right through the factory" pickets told Socialist Press.
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We've tried to do 48. We've even worked in the safety areas. Its just