Workers angry about strikes

Press, 26 February 1977, Page 6

Workers angry about strikes

“NZPA London l ;i / Angry Leyland workers (have blockaded the Long[bridge, Birmingham, plant in la backlash against, the strikes that are bringing the car giant to its knees. Eight hundred men were' laid off for the second time: (this week as a new stoppage hit Leyland. Many staged a sit-in. while others picketed the factory gates with placards, saying: “All we want is 40 hours’ work a week,”) and, “Give us 40 hours and! we will produce the four millionth Mini.” Five stoppages involving 4000 workers have halted production of 10 models. More than 21,000 men are

iiidle as a result, and the number could increase to 3 30,000 within a few days. The trouble at Longbridge! i came when 56 workers who) * test Minis coming off the! » assembly line were “put into; .dispute” for failing to workj normally. )[ The management said that) * the testers had refused nor-; i ma! duties this week in sup-1 [ port of a claim for 31 days'; • pay lost during a previous! : disnute —■ a total of about '(s7oo. Ii Within 9fl minutes, the • Mini line stopped and the 800 day-shift assemblers, j who had been back at work for only two days, were told : to go home again.