La significant reprieve last week.
Faced with the decision workers to strike against imposition Japanese-style work practices and manning levels, Management withalew il 12-point efficiency plan.
The immediate resull of this was the postponeredundancies originally set for the end of this month The determination of the body plant workers to strike against the imposition of the efficiency plan despite being laid off four weeks because of the Kelly dispute, has forced managcmachl s nand. Majority In the event of a strike at Halewood the vital Bridgend Swansea plants were pledged to imHe onle solidarity action. Bridgend produces all the engines for built Escorts.
swansea Dagenham with rear axles and gear boxes for the top selling Sierra.
Nor could Ford be assured of Sierra cars from On Friday, workers at the Genk plant in Belgium, which currently produces the top end of the Sierra range BriTain. votee to sae o 25 April in support of their demand for two hours off the working week and an extra 500 jobs to maintain current production levels.
So Ford faced having no Escorts ALTHOUGH THE fate of Paul Kelly = the assembly plant worker victimised for alleged van. dalism at Ford Halewood - now rests with an independent enquiry, the Merseyside car workers won and Sierras to sell in Britain, the backbone of its European market. Faults But, Halewood body plant senior steward, John Bohanna was cautious 400U the company's climbdown when 1 I spoke him 'The redundancies have only beer postponed for four weeks although it is impossible to see how the! can be implemented separately from the company's efficiency plan Worry 'My worry is that some officials convenors will be prepared to make concessions on efficiencie: in return for a deal on a new wages structure which is meant to be introduced inans vers ware col tract Previously, the situation has been under our control we've developed our own links with Bridgend Swansea: Now the national officials will be trying put a tighter rein on us.
But all Ford workers. indeed all car workers, can draw a lesson from recent events at Halewood The cut-throat competition that presently exists between car manufacturers not only compels them to savagely attack the jobs and working conditions of their employees - it also makes them more vulnerable to strike action That and solidarity action, nationally and internationally, Call still be a winning combination.