CAR FIRM’S DISMISSALS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 11

CAR FIRM’S DISMISSALS

Unions Call For Talks (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. June 7. Leaders of nine trade unions involved in Britain’s first automation dismissals—at the Standard motor-car plant—called for Government-spon-sored talks last night on the dismissal of 2640 men. Thev urged the Minister of Labour (Mr lain Macleod) to call top-level talks on the redundancy problem at Standard’s vast plant at Coventry in England’s industrial Midlands. An amendment calling for strike action by the 11.000 men employed by the company was not put to a vote. Some trade union leaders at last night’s meeting pressed for a strike in protest against the sackings, but others asked for an approach to be made to the Ministry of Labour instead. The resolution, calling for top-level talks, was carried unanimously. The 2640 men are being sacked as a result of the re-equipping of the Standard tractor plant and falling demand for cars. Notices to half the men expired last night, and for the remainder they will exnire in a fortnight’s time. Each man will be given a tax-free payment of £l5 compensation if he stays at work until bis dismissal notice expires.