MORE THAN 3000 Massey Ferguson workers in Coventry have gone into occupation to stop management plans to sack 140 people.
Massey Ferguson had tried to achieve a cutback or ou in une labour force in their UK operation by voluntary. Most of these were in the Coventry plant.
DURI acd has already been hard hit by the crisis in cal dustry, with the closure of BL S Canicy Plant, CULS at Talbot, and the soin-ott ettects in component companies.
The result that Coventry has, in the space of four years, gone from being an area OI full employment to having an unemployment rate over 17 per cent.
As approach Coventry by train a peeling полсе board proudiy announces 'Coventry the Ciof Skills and Opportunity' It is now a city with plenty of skills but no opportunity to use them.
prospect of finding alternative work the 'golden handshake' oftered by Massevs did not get the required number of So thev turned to compulsory redundanjected this move and voted only vorer against, for occupation of the plant until the threat of sackings with withdrawn.
response this management has drawn the offer of voluntary redundancy to those who would have got more than £2,000. They have also stated that if the occupation continues after 5 April work will be transferred to Massey's French plant.
The unions are demanding that the company inwork sharing system, but Masseys seem determined to push ahead with their plans. No doubt they are encouraged in this hard line by the fact that the jobs massacre in the come under Tebbit's law.
Over month ago convenor Denis Barry and five other stewards received a bill for £6,800 for the eviction their cupied factor DaCK August. At the time they were rightly preoccupiec with fighting the scabbing operation organised Anderton's police force which finally the strikes.
passed on the matter to their union's district committee Just month previously the Plessey's sit-in in Bathgate Scotland had SuC cessfully maintained legal threats, there was some hope in the Laurence scott camp But week, just before they were due to ap. pear in court to contest this, a bombshell came: a letter from Sir John Boyd, AUEW general secretary, informing the district committee that not only would The union normeet or con Many claim for costs following 14. July, the day the union executive made the strike unofficial, but they wouldn't even provide legal aid.
Billy Partian, senior steward, summed up their anger: 'The unions are giving Tebbit grounds he's Plessey's fought and won that an occupation form of industrial dispute membership being attacked again and the strike will continue until 08.00 hours Friday mor1lll 21.00: Mass meeting told that management refuses Pickets arranged to cove Strike continues. depot until 08.00 hours. 08.00: Mass meeting debates whether or not to return to work.
that should continue the strike until blallazculcul arıce lu pay us Both the LDCs argue Your Bank Name of Account to be debited Account Number.
Our Bank ... Lloyd's Bank, 19 Upper St. London N!
Account No...
Sorting Code.........30-94-57 Amount to be paid..
First Payment due.
Signed.. SHOP STEWARDS who led the Laurence Scott battle in Manchester are facing a fresh and united attack from their employer and union leaders, which could be a foretaste of things to all the union leaders can do is pontificate in public against while pick up the tab.
Billy Partlan explained •We occupied the factor background to this on the recommendation o local engineering union of ficials. they told us this was the best form of industrial When Boyd made the strike unofficial he acted out : of rule. withdrawing LE e union's solicitors he also acted out of rule in tac the union's solicitors continued to act for us after 14 July. That the dispute was unofficial was contested in Many case and only ratified by the union's national committee in November.
The union must take responsibility, they contested Ene eviction and they should contest this quences. If the shop stewards are made lable it's a deterrent for others to fight. This is just what Tebbit wants.' Shop stewards are appealing for financial ald to fight this. As Billy Partlan says: 'The fight Tebbit starts now by supportillg and defending people such as ourselves Trad and Labour Parties are urged to send financial support • to the LSE joint shop stewards, 20 Roundcroft. Romiley, Cheshire.
that we should return to work having secured our OUICCLIVC. Steve Forey says: 'We've showed up the area manager as the April Fool.' A message was sent to the signalmen thanking them for their support and saying if they need our support in the future we'l be right behind them.
Also decide immediately respond to any further attempts at victimisation.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE BANKER'S ORDER FORM 0179678 .Monthir in the month thereafte- .And on the same date Socialist Challenge 8 April 1962 page e