5500 Idle After Strike Over One Man

From Our Own Correspondent
BIRMINGHAM, AUG. 31

About 5,500 Midland car workers were idle today because of an inter-union dispute over one man. Seven thousand men are likely to stay away from work tomorrow as a result of the strike of 21 tool setters at S.U. Carburettors, Ltd., Erdington. Production by the British Motor Corporation is also seriously threatened by the official strike of 209 members of the Electrical Trades Union at the Fisher and Ludlow works, Erdington. The men are asking for an extra 1s. 14d. an hour.

Because of the S.U. Carburettor strike, 4,000 B.M.C. workers at Morris Motors, Cowley, and 600 men at Nuffield Metal Products, Washwood Heath, were sent home today. About 5,000 men are expected to be idle at Cowley tomorrow and 1,000 at Nuffield Metal Products.

The Rover car company laid off 770 men today but they will return to work tomorrow.

About 1,000 men will not report for work at the Jaguar works in Coventry tomorrow and 950 will be laid off on Monday.

USING STOCKS
Production is now being maintained only by using stocks, and all companies agree that the situation must become progressively more serious unless the strike is settled. The tool setters-who are members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union-are striking because a member of the Transport and General Workers' Union refuses to change his union on promotion to their grade. The B.M.C. is trying to bring the two unions together, with the assistance of the Engineering Employers' Federation, while dealing with the developing threat of the E.T.U. strike. The official negotiating machinery has been exhausted in this case and the union believes it can bring the factory to a halt.

As Fisher and Ludlow make body pressings or panels for the Wolseley 1500, the Riley 1.5, the A35 van, the Morris Mini-Minor, and the Austin Seven, this would have a grave effect on B.M.C. production.

Standard's New Policy Outlined To Unions
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
COVENTRY, AUG. 31

The new managing director of Standard Triumph International, Ltd., Mr Stanley Markland, today met officials of the Coventry district of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.

He outlined to them the company's new policy under its parent firm, Leyland Motors. After an hour's informal discussion he appeared to have won over the union negotiators and convinced them that a brighter-than-ever future is in prospect for the Coventry firm's 7,000 manual workers. Mr Markland gave no hint about the nature of the " additional products " which the parent company is to introduce at Coventry, and there was considerable speculation in the city tonight about the Leyland intentions. Already they have announced that 2,500 assemblv men engaged on Triumph Herald production will go on a three-day week from Monday.

So far about 180 senior staff, from executive to supervisory level, have been dismissed and 60 clerical staff have also been discharged. Mr Markland made it clear today that the changes were not to be regarded as an attack on established agreements and conditions. There was no discussion therefore about possible wage cuts for the men on the shop floor.

STANDARD TRIUMPH - The Triumph TR4 is announced today.