More laid off as effects of car disputes spread

Nearly 14,000 British Leyland workers will be idle today with production at a standstill at Austin-Morris, Cowley and Triumph and Alvis, Coventry, as the effects of pay disputes continue to grow. In addition a strike called for to- day at Girling's Bromborougli factory threatens disc brake supplies for a large part of the motor industry.

Another 1,000 men were laid off at Austin-Morris, Cowley, yesterday, making the total idle there 7,250. A mass meeting of 2,250 men employed in the bodv plant has been called for this morning to consider developments which took place over the weekend. The men have been suspended daily for the past week for refusing to drop a go slow campaign in support of a wage claim. Yesterday there was a crowded meeting of the local branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union which covers the Cowley body plant.

Mr David Buckle,Oxford district secretary, said: "The branch declared itself fully in support of the men's action in this dispute."

Car production is at a standstill at Triumph, Coventry, with 4,500 men laid off. A strike by 70 employees in the company's Radford component plant has stopped supplies of back axles for all Triumph models except the 1500.

BLMC jobs expansion: Additional workers are being sought at the British Leyland factory, Bathgate, West Lothian, where only two months ago there was fear of closure during a prolonged wage strike. Employment for about 100 men is to be provided within the next few weeks.