15t Rosstrial News Speke Stays Out Against Speed up
Socialist Press1978 1978-01-11Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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Shop stewards feel that the full time officials who have supported the 9-week strike by 4,000 workers at British Leyland's Triumph plant in Speke, Liverpool, are beginning to change their position.
The reason for these doubts are the leaked statements claiming that Leyland's new Managing Director, Michael Edwardes, is planning to close the plant.
The cause of the strike was the sudden refusal of management last October to honour the mutuality agreement-which provides for manning levels to be mutually agreed prior to implementation or_. subject to a mutually agreed temporary arrangement.
The following clauses are at issue:
"Difficulties associated with Manning Levels, methods, equipment, layout, individual or group ability which are raised will be discussed objectively and genuine and constructive attempt made to resolve them.
"If these difficulties cannot be resolved then the appropriate representative of management and the steward (s) must agree temporary arrangement on which the job will continue while an initial or further study is conducted."
This section of the agreement was a substantial obstacle to Leyland's drive for speed-up and total management control of manning levels. PHOTO: John Sturrock, Report