drawn up by Lucas workers.
by the Communist Party his own. GEOFFREY SHERIDAN reports.
surprisingly, management of Lucas Aerospace has never had any love TASS for the corporate plan, drawn up by its workforce through the combine shop stewards committee.
The plan challenges much that capitalism stands for. puts forward a wide range of echnologically advanced products designed to human needs instead inhuman drive for profit.
the announcemen!
Acrospace plants and 2,000) redundancies, the products that have been devised — specially tailored to the skills equipment available at Lucas - are needed more than ever.
ENTHUSIASM Not surprisingly, the idea of the corporate plan has received considerable enthusiasm movement. Among those who have done much to bring this THE POP art boom of the 60% brought Allen Jones acclaim for his paintings women's legs in high heels and close-litting stockings; Images drawn From sadistic pornography; and fibre glass statues, such as that of a nude woman kneeling on all tours with her back supporting a coffeetable.
Jones continues to produce work this exhilarating intensity, which the Institute of Contemporary Art in London is now displaying. The gallery presumably sbares the artist's view of his work, and has produced a revolting poster of a bastic looking woman arge upturned breasts.
Allen Jones becomes extremely indignant suggest that the appeal of his before... paistings is manifesdy what it 1 whale MIKE COOLEY, former president of the Engineering Union's white-collar section and a leading militant at Lucas Aerospace, is threatened with the sack because of his campaigning activities on the corporate plan Officals of his union, AUEW (TASS] — dominated - say that Cooley will be on the | about is Mike Cooley.
Cooley is chairperson of the committee Willesden factory London where he works, He is also chairperson of the TASS membership throughout Lucas Acrospace, and editor of the combine committee's newsletter. meet OPPOSED On 5 July, the company's ersonnel director wrote to Ken Gill, general secretary of TAS: Communist Party, detailing the member time Cooley had sought for activities not concerned with and his activities as a corresponding member' 'Corresponding member" is TASS's term for workplace union representatives. Cooley' time off was concerned with the corporate plan. It averaged 47 been days a month, for which his pay bad been stopped.
The personnel director, Alan Whitney, made it clear that he opposed to. is. He insists thar it's about the much exploration of spatial biguity' Among those who sharply disagree with him are a group of women who call temscives the Fruit Pies. On 27 July they made the Celery Bad know why the gallery gIVE exhibition. Outside they mounled the picket ulustrated here. The Fruit Pies say: We think we've got more exciting ideas than Mr Jones and that we, the real thing, have much more to say than the boring cliches he produces. What does he know ahout women! He goes further than Sobo for - It's no wonder you you teel you've seen it all and be gets richer get. ripped NW sack activities — paid or unpaid -ahhough the company provides union representatives with full facilities.
Whitney's letter shall be pleased if this matter national executive as a formal protest in the hope Cooley can he advised. persist in taking time off to deal vate marters waica are carde his approved will have to take whatever ssary.
APPROACH There are two words with Cooley's which trade union would immediately any reply to such an approach from mailavement Inc mulation is 'Get stuffed"
Not so the Ken Gills of this added:
that Mr if he should trade action is nece weck referred the matter When self-respecting polite for. them that world or the rest of the Broad signed a Matement Lefts on the TASS leadership.
•the executive sub-committee which is chie 1o meet as we po to press Lucas Acrospace management first threatened Mike Cooley, six weeks ago defining stewards from every site told Many victimisation would lead to industrial action Forty Labour MPs have against TASS urging Industy Ministry Eric Varicy to persuade Lucas management to stop its victimisation.
So the company has appealed directly to the union burens- the acy for support, mulatera ASS policy in ti process. Management says the corporate plan has notbing to do with the union.
TASS evidently agrees. Ken You'll bave gathered from that with R Sisson's departure and with D Weppler stretched put under place, dutiates in the editorial office haven't got a chie about raising in fact. The first is why don't I've got a suggestion IWD RacE column and will make sure is piec this The scoond is this. When you're abroad where the liquor is cheap get a botlle or two and when you're back here drink it. Then go pul with the empty Gill has said that the plan 1s the policy AUEW.
And NOW tWO full-time ElrE London, and Charlie Lomas in Birmingham — have told TASS meetings: If Cooley is sacked for working on the plan, he will not be supported by the union.
That's the measure or li Broad Left's enthusiasm for one of the most far-sighted Ideas to come from the labour movement, and of its defence for the best-known socialist in Militants will not Mand by, even if the CP leadership does Next week: How the Government and anion leaders are ditching the Laees Acrospuce SOFACES
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