With 25,000 Chrysler workers' jobs on the chopping block - and rumours circulating that Wilson will demand that at least half of the.e go even if the Labour Government steps in management at British Leyland are also stepping up their offensive against jobs.
Once again Cowley Assembly Plant Management are threatening to close the North works, which produces the new Princess, unless a target of 28½ cars an hour is reached.
As revealed in last week's Red Weekly. the Joint Shop Stewards Committee back ed open mie books committee nas aiready exposed the reality behind management claims of 'shoddy work' and 'unsausactory Denormance. Faulty componchEs ana snortases nave exisicE In Sore cases for as long as tweive months. And why, we may ask, if the need to produce on short-time?
Behind managements calm oshoddy work is an intense speed-up offensive. The way for this has been prepared by the the Ryder proposals for 'worker participation'- • the system of so-called joint committees was endorsed just three weeks ago by senior stewards.
Leyland management hope that this and fear of 'another Chrysler' will leave the shop-floor leaderless and intimidated in the face of their attacks - and what better place to start than that hotbed of agitation. Cowlev! Smash Cowley, It is hoped, and the rest won't even fight. The response needed from Cowley workers is clear. They must insist that stewards one oint committees ano a baracula boycott the special meeting with Ryder himself on 9 December.
Leyland workers at the Standard Triumph assembly plant at Canley, Coventry ast week showed me wav ov denvers a real blow to Ryder's schemes - voting by a majority of 434 to reject the participation proposals. Cowley workers must now seize hold of the opportunity that numb workers nave aven to mem. D breaking up the working of the participation system and refusing to move if management attempt to send them home from the North works, the long-awaited fight against seviana s mass rcuundancies Didils
Red Weekly 27