Neither he nor the leadership of the shop stewards commitioe bave an answer to Leyland, profitability, that some Leyland plants need closing. Figures issued by Leyland tell bow the TR7 just haven' traken off.
Al full production the capacity of the number 2 plant is 100,000 cars per year, In 1973 the target set was 17,550 of which only 65 cept were made. In 1976 the taper was 38,040 of which 80 per cent were made, in 1977 when a double shift was introduosd 43,810 was the target and only 53 per cent were made. Thus in the first three years only 68,510 cars were made out of the tärget 89,400). 61,250 have been sold so far. After four mooths of total stoppage there are still 4,000 unsold TRIS COmI MIdS A local radio station news reporter who wen o America, where 80 per cent of all TR7s an sold, has described the situation: 'According to motor industry sources here the TR7 story is without precedent. Here's a car which captured the imapinacion of America bur which was left ar the starting gare by its Italian and Sapabese rivals. Twice Leyland recalled all the cars that were sole hecase ot minor toutes In desin, Cn top of that had workmanship irritated the LTOSSEU CORS JELLE Neitber factor represented major setbacks but 0000000 70104707601 02327 they did.
This raises the important question thar shop stewards oced to face in planning a figbr back to the closures. The TR7 is not selling beause of design faults and management's refusal to extend the range where there is demand (soft tops and four seaters). Michael Edwardes is attempting to streamine Leyland so that it oaly produces live or six models. models and unprofitable new ones will go —the Dolomite, MG and TR7. Te oppose Edwardes plan implies chat the workers at Speke and oLenaE beşlaa lco LO DE LABELLE DE I alternative workers" plan.
labour movement.
TULCE CHE have all resulted in job losses:
Place the dole.
gradually been This means old IF THE SPEKE plant is closed over 3,000 workers will join the Merseyside dole quene, boosting unemployment in the area from 11.5 to 12 per cent. The future can only look grim uniess a major fightback is launched by the Recently there has been a spate of disputes agiost maubing levels and speed ups which *The new teaching hospital is due ta be completed in the spring and without any new major start over 1,000 construction workers SubLET *The Tate & Lyle sugar relinery has Drubbing down and will eventua y cose jo a dockland arce wher unemployment waries from 25 to 50 per cent.
*Al Birds Eye in Kirkby 456 women can production workers were declared redundant while they were laid off frou a strike involving 120 fitters. The compaoy has settled with the fitters but are now making acceptance Df the redundancies, plus nine outstanding points on productivity conditional for a return to work.
*Cuts of 6 million miles of bus routes a yea will mean less bus workers.
The list oould go on and on, bur the picrure is clear. Rationalisations and redundancies are going shead full stewm on Merseyside, and resistance to them is very uneven. Tradicionally well organised sections, like the dacks and the Ford Halewaod plant have bath won recen strikes over productivity and manning. Ti is al the smaller plants where the attacks are meeting And very little is coning jo to replace the los jols. Metal Hox opened a major new plant in SPOKe reccOts 30 people Guiness has just dooe the same. The trend is for increasingy LEIDINI INTENSIVE INSCHACH In such a situation the demand for work HATS RITO HIS OW-N MC OL DOC YaLL unile employed and memplayed TOOU CIENF industry in Merseysid