THE FIRST real test of strength between Chrysler car their ten-month-old Peugeot management is now under way.
Thursday meeting under the tration Service failed to break the Conciliation deadlock over tiations.
Laughable About 2,000 workers at Chrysler's Ryton assembly plant in Coventry have been on strike for more than a week over a five and a pay offer described as 'laughable' by union officials.
A further 3,000 Chrysler's engine plant, Coventry, were due to join the strike as Socialist Challenge went to press.
Peugeot-Chrysler's reaction
familiar one for a company which in used methods to smash strikes — they have called in the law. Management is now seeking a High Court injunction to get pickets removed Ryton gates.
The pickets are using a small building just inside one of the main THE COMING school year will be one of militant action by students to win their rights al school participate in the struggles against the Tory government. That message from the National Union of School Students' annual conference last weekend.
conference reflected the dissatisfaction ot school around the country with the inactivity of tneir union over the pust couple of Photo: Pete Child workers alla tough stance pices of the Arbi- itself provocative. management, ensure parity Chrysler-Peugeot be hit hardest.
'levelling down' half per cent wages of the workers at up' for the worst paid.
those who cent.
strong-armed the These doubts gates to make tea and go to the toilet. Chrysler-Peugeot is demanding the cops throw them out. Although this would have little effect on the success of the strike, it is an indication of the being taken by Chrysler-Peugeot management.
Indeed, it seems the pay offer was is, says part of a package to throughout the UK combine.
Because of past regional differences, this means that some will get less than others, and the Coventry workers will In fact the offer amounts to a — a cut to the real higher-paid workers bringing them down to the level of the lowest paid — rather than a 'levelling Thus, even benefit most from. the offer, workers at the Linwood plan in Scotland, would get just 13 per Management now complains that the strike would stop a multi-million pound order from Iran which is 'vital' to the company's survival, but there are suspicions that the company may be simply looking for an excuse to announce wholesale redundancies.
stem an announcement last month from the French parent company that Peugeot is to open five new component plants in France; a move which could mean a run down of Chrysler UK, especially in engine and gearbox production.
Peugeot took over Chrysler in a move which made the company the larges!
Chrysler activities in the UK' French car giant suggested bad times ahead for Chrysler workers. A survey was announced revealed that of the top eight nationalised and private companies in France, Peugeot had the longest working week, paid the lowest minimum monthly second worst accident record, and that only 10 per cent of its workers JUW. DECLED impose the same sort of régime here. A determined stand by all Chrysler workers - whether in Scotland or duo of redundancies and By a Clvil Servant THE MINISTRY of Defence has threatened to bring in troops to smash the selective strike action currently being taken by Professional Civil Servants.
As the IPCS nove to nuclear installations; explosives and fingerprint officers; toncevable occupation from officey on ocean tags, to radio operators, to much about the strike action in the The background to the dispute is technologists involved over the way per cent.
the Institute of stepped up their the dissatisfaction London executive's structured the Station strike;
Power factories functioning enerally have risen by 70 per ce comparat per cem considera the natio weeks ago, das day to th governm out: techuk technicians to ordnanc and dockyards, other White