Attacks Jobs

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JOHNSON ALONE HAS JUST WASTED convenors have played a central part in drawing up the confidential report on productivity that has fingered the Speke sports car plant for closure, and backed up management calls for speed-up and "voluntary" redundancies.

The report trots out all the tired old employers cliches about Leyland workers only producing 45% to 65% as much as car workers on the continent.

Plants operate productively on average for only 45-55% of a normal working week, it declares. Some plants are worse than others. The Speke Assembly Plant, it claims, is one of the worst performers.

Weapon It is hard to imagine a handier weapon to present to management almost on the eve of crucial mass meeting decisions on resisting closure at Speke.

Yet every one of the report's proposals carries the approval of the stewards on the study committee, which was set up under the 'worker participation' scheme.

Leading advocates of participation within the unions include Longbridge convenor and top Communist Party member Derek Robinson, along with open right wingers like Triumph convenor Eddy MeGarry.

Management recognise the set-up as a means to destroy the independent strength of the shop stewards movement in Leyland and suck even former militants into "joint" management committees with the sole task of attacking conditions on the shop floor.

The result is now a report that does not beat about the bush on the need to increase exploitation and cut jobs.

"Leyland Cars cannot afford the luxury of lengthy debate over the unpalatable results contained in this report: there has to be action now by all parties" lie, management and unions|.

Management have already commenced their side of this -announcing the closure of the Speke factory at a cost of YOU SEE, SIR... ALO 3,000 j of 1,80 through VE HAS JUST ibs, and the slashing ) jobs at Longbridge "natural wastage".

Speed-up

And throughout Leyland, manning levels are under attack in a concerted drive for speed-up.

This attack is combined with added pressure on two fronts.

On the one hand management are attempting to force through a job-cutting incentives scheme, using the device of a ballot of all 100,000 manual workers in order to over-ride the verbal opposition of Leyland JOBS Once ankrupt Invenor convenors.

Since these same convenors refused to fight the imposition of the 10% pay limit, management are confident they can offer no lead against the incentives plan.

On the other hand Industry Secretary Varley has announced that a further £850 million of government backing will be availableproviding the Edwardes plan for speed up and rationalisation goes through.

Profits

again the cy of s- who hav political Leyland consistban on holding office in the union as a result of a District kangaroo court inquiry.

The charges include having "a depth of political disagreement" with the TGWU Executive over pay policy, walking out of a District Committee meeting and revealing the size of the 5/293 Branch secretary's commission!

But with Leyland jointly planning with TGWU officials a wholesale offensive to impose speed-up and sackings throughout the corporation, those forces likely to form a firm focus of opposition are seen as an obstacle to be disposed of at all costs.

Robinson ently accepted that it is their job to assist management to make profits, and who have refused to fight against such blackmailing tactics-is central to this strategy.

Witch-hunt

Meanwhile the trade union bureaucracy has begun to implement their side of the A coordinated political witch-hunt is underway within the TGWU aimed at bureaucratically removing the newly re-elected leadership in the Cowley Assembly Plant, which has stood out on principle opposing closures, speed-up, the Edwardes plan, and the whole reactionary participation set-up.

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PHOTO: John Stumock. Resort PHOTO: John