Auto Strikes In Britain

Auto Strikes In Britain

Thousands of automobile workers went on strike today, halting production of luxury Jaguar cars and Austin Rover models. Workers at Austin Rover walked out ahead of schedule at two plants. The strike, affecting 28,000 workers, was scheduled to start on Monday. The union has called for an immediate wage increase of 20 percent; the company has offered 10 percent over two years.

At Jaguar, which the Government sold to the private sector in August, all 7,400 workers at three plants walked out to press demands for a 20 percent pay increase this year. They rejected an offer of 22 percent over two years and the option of taking $500 worth of shares due them next spring. The automobile stoppage came a day after efforts to settle the nation's eight-month coal strike collapsed following 10 hours of talks.