Shop Steward, Rover SD1 I have been at the Rover SD1 plant from the of the f90m pride of both workers and management as the first SD1 rolled off the line.
Rover car standing at the end of the line in all its glory. That was a short five years ago Rover cars were renowned for, but he fell short of quantity for the launch date.
under instruction to go for quantity, only to find that SD1 was congested with unfinished cars time this was impossible.
tages.
Edwardes was brought in government to trim BL.
took out his axe. His new bosses gave him a free hand, and a new team of under-managers was plant opened.
The sub-contractors who were still working on the plant were impressed by the brand new Plant manager No.1 was removed because he wanted to build the car with the quality that Manager No.2 was sacked because he was No.3 went for reworking all cars which needed rectification, but even with unlimited overThe company and unions agreed to let cars go to dealers with shorby the Labour He trod softly at first, but once the Tories came to power Edwardes redundant at the SD1 over the past 18 months those who stayed have been trated like morons. We have been cursed, bullied, and disciplined over minor matters per cent rise collected by Edwardes. most efficient plant in BL. Over the past 12 months our bonus has averaged f13.50 week, compared to the next best plant, which averaged £1.50.
when it was announced close. To me and many of my mates, this wasn't simply an announcement that another 2,000 were to go on the dole. war who will need the jobs after us.
We will take up the challenge. leaders should understand that we will not let them isolate us. We remember Speke, Robinson, Canley, and Ansells. not stong enough, we must seek the power of the miners, dockers, and transport workers. can and will win if the union leaders stand up and be counted.
is do we know our friends? Three thousand workers have been made Our wage rise was 5 per cent, against the 38 . We are the So you can imagine how stunned we were that the SD1 is to It was a declaration of for our jobs and the youth of this town Our union Derek It's not a Rover fight - it's BL. And if that's We all know the enemy, but what worries me can wrap the whole thing up.
This has to be combatted. The most important aspect of this campaign is winning the membership to fighting the closure, and that won't done will go to a mass meeting next week PAT HICKEY, deputy convenor Rover SD1