plants — at least for the time being. The use of scab labour at Ford, Dagenham, to restart production in the door hangers section last week failed. The action of the door hangers was in support of their demand for the reinstatement of Ken West, one of the workers sacked after the night of the riot' when Ford workers pontaneously wrecked a management canteen and over-turned vehcles in response to continuous layoffs by management, who are pushIng a productivity drive.
The door-hangers' action provoked a flood of propaganda bulletins from management accompanied by imThe factory-wide sit-ins at Jaguar, ago which successfully headed off agement lock-out threat have been followed up by another victory for Jaguar workers. In response to the workers' claim for full payment for time lost, Leyland have been forced to make full payment to the day shift who were sent home the day before the sit-in, and full payment to the night shift who led the first occupaThree hours were also lost by the day shift following the action. While the management have agreed to pay one and a quarter hours of this money lost, they offered the settleRESISTANCE BY THE SHOP FLOOR has halted the car bosses' drive to split and demoralise the work-force in two important car promptu 'mass meetings' called by foremen. However, only one leaflet was put out from the shop-stewards to counter this offensive.
In spite of this, the attempt of management to use scab labour to restart the production of the new Cortina failed when workers blacked the scabs' work. Once this move had failed, a compromise return to work plan was agreed with union officials, providing for the reinstatement of the majority of men dismissed. Ken West, however, will be forced to go to arbitration to regain his post.
Evidence that the campaign for a guaranteed working week can gain the enthusiasm of the workforce was evident later on that day, when a mass meeting of assembly workers voted unanimously to reject a company pay offer because the full pay clause was not included.
ment with another ultimatum that if it were rejected then the full three hours would remain in dispute.
Having conceded full payment to the nightshift, again are trying to divide the workforce stewards have recommended acceptance of this offer with a promise of further talks, in the absence of an immediate answer.
PAUL MITCHEL, our correspondent on the Coventry motor industry, writes: The recent struggle snowed the willingness of Jaguar workers to defend their earnings and jobs agManagement attacks on conditions are certain to continue with the support of the Government and the Labour NEC, and urged on by union leaders like Jones and Scanlon who oppose any action by Leyland workers to defend themselves regardless of how justified the grievance or how severe the attack.
Agreement manage'; Leyland regard this as an unlimited licence to mount continual that. Moreover, the decision to transfer paint-shop operations from the jobs for Jaguar workers in Coventry.
by Jaguar workers imposing a syspay in the factory.
workforce.
management once Shop OCES supplies, cules. order to prepare and impose effective mand for and conditions.
LIVILI The Jaguar plant agreement accepts the right of management to WEEKLY GIVE US A FIRM