BMC Workers Laid Off By Strike

More than 8,000 employees of the British Motor Corporation were laid off yesterday because of an unofficial strike by 140 internal transport workers at the Fisher and Ludlow body factory, Erdington, Birmingham.

The men are protesting against the suspension of a driver who was said to have left work before time. Seven thousand men. including the night shift, were idle at the Erdington works, another 1,100 at the Austin works, Longbridge, Birmingham, and 150 at the Morris Motors factory, Cowley, Oxford. It is hoped that the transport workers will resume work when the driver's suspension ends on Monday.

Fresh industrial trouble at the Number 3 factory of the Dunlop Rim and Wheel Company, Coventry, where 500 men struck yesterday in support of two shop stewards, said to have been dismissed for " industrial misconduct", threatened the jobs of thousands of B.M.C. workers in other car centres. The strikers, who are not due to meet again until Wednesday, make suspension units for the B.M.C. mini-car range and the Morris 1100. Production of these units has already been halted this week because of another strike at the same Coventry factory.