Industrial action spreads

Radiator Strikers To Stay Out
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
OXFORD, Oct. 11

The 120 polishers on unofficial strike at the radiators branch of Morris Motors, Oxford, decided today not to return to work and to meet again on Tuesday. The unions claim that the rest of the 1250 manual workers are out in support of the polishers and that production of radiators and other components for a wide range of cars has stopped. B.M.C. said the dispute was already having its effects and could disrupt assembly throughout the corporation.

One man is at the centre of the dispute. The polishers say the company put him in their department without hearing objections by the unions. In doing so, they say, the company broke an agreement under which the unions should be consulted in case they have objections before labour is transferred. At today's meeting the men decided not go back to work until the man was removed, though they emphasize they have nothing personal against him. The management has said that the man was transferred with the agreement of the senior shop steward.

7,500 Car Workers Idle In Union Wrangle

More than 8,000 men altogether were out of work in the Midlands motor industry today because of a dispute between four unions at Fisher and Ludlow Ltd., Birmingham, the bodymakiing subsidiary of the British Motor Corporation. As supplies of bodies finished, production of all cars at Longbridge, Birmingham, stopped except for the Cambridge and Westminster saloons, and so did the production of many vehicles at Cowley. Oxford.

About 7,500 men at both plants were sent home. The Transport and General Workers Union, the Amalgamated Engineering Union and the National Society of Metal Mechanics are insisting that their members -there are about 800 at Fisher and Ludlow-should be used for work usually done by members of the National Union of Vehicle Builders.

It was announced tonight that the next step in the dispute will be a meeting between representatives of all the unions on Monday at the headquarters of the transport workers' union in London.