Output of Triumph cars slowed by work-to-rule

By R. W. Shakespeare
Northern Industrial Correspondent

All production of Triumph cars at British Leyland's Midland factories is being progressively slowed to a standstill by labour troubles. By next week the only model still being produced in the Triumph range is likely to be the Toledo at the company's Merseyside plant.

About 2800 workers at two Triumph factories at Speke, Liverpool were told yesterday of progressive layoffs from today because of the strike of component part, workers in the Midlands and a walkout of 400 assembly workers at the Triumph plant at Coventry. Alreadv more than 4000 Triumph workers are idle in the Midlands, and this figure is likely to rise to 9000.

The standstill is being caused by a dispute over piecework rates involving engine assembly workers. Production of Mini's and 1100/1300 cars at British Leylands plant at Longbridge, Birmingham will be halted today, and 3000 workers made idle. Production difficulties there are being caused by the component shortage coupled with a separate dispute in which workers in the Longbridge engine plant are imposing an overtime ban.

At Cowley, Oxford, British Leyland is having to build incomplete cars including those in the new Marina range.