Strikes disrupt car factories, docks and newspapers

By MICHAEL THOMAS

Docks, national newspapers, and sections of the car industry, were worst affected by widespread May Day strikes yesterday in protest at the Government's proposed strike control legislation.

But the trouble was less serious than had been feared. The strikes brought work in the Port of London to a halt, only six ships out of more than 90 were worked on Merseyside, and operations stopped completely at Hull and Manchester docks. The assembly of Austin cars stopped at British Leyland's works at Longbridge, Birmingham. and the company's Morris Motors plant at Cowley was closed at midday. British Leyland estimated that 2,000 cars worth £1,250,000 had been lost .