Combine-wide backing for car strike

This combine meeting urges the company to immediately enter into negotiations with the Ryton trade unions.

"The attitude of the company can only lead to irreparable damage to itself and to its employees?

Coventry Labour MP Mr Leslie Huckfield added: 'Chrysler are provoking a deliberate confrontation with the union.' Over 4,500 men at the Ryton factory have been on strike for three weeks over the management's refusal to give them lay-off pay.

At 9 a.m. yesterday, 4,000 workers at Chrysler's Stoke, Coventry, plant pledged not to handle components ~nd material connected wi Ryton factory and • op stewards say the ent. force could be laid off the weekend.

No definite pru. als were put to the 31 sl › stewards at yesterday's meeting at T&GWU headquarters, but Ryton leaders sair terwards they were happy with the outcome.

The Ryton men are basing their strategy on forcing Chrysler to lay off men at Stoke and Linwood at a cost of up to £500,000 per week.

Yesterday's meeting

sured them of the combine support they need to beat back the management offensive at Ryton.

Stoke AUEW convenor, Mr Ray Wild, said: We view Chrysler's attitude with extreme alarm and one which could have far-reaching consequences.

'We can see behind it a possible attempt to bring in the American concept of Measured-Day Work' Asked whether he thought Chrysler might be trying. to provoke trouble in Britain in order to increase their investments in Lock-out at Perkins WORKERS at the Peterborough diesel engine factories of Perkins Limited yesterday accused the company of locking them out in a bid to break their fight for parity.

The 5,700 workers want a commitment in principle that there will be a move towards parity of earnings with the Massey Ferguson tractor plant at Coventry, which is part of the same group.

Earnings at the Peterborough actories, which are on MeasuredDay Work, are at present £20 behind those at Coventry.

Massey Ferguson has just temporarily withdrawn an attempt to impose MDW at the Coventry factory.

At a mass meeting yesterday morning shop stewards condemned the company's decision to close down all production at Peterborough because the overtime ban workers have been operating for the past ten weeks.

The company wanted the shutdown. But yesterday's mass meeting endorsed a decision . of the engineering union's district committee that Perkins' action must be considered a lock-out.

Deputy convenor Jeff Cain told Workers Press the company had taken the line it had in an attempt to force the joint shop stewards' committee accept its offer of £2, within the ceiling of the Tory pay laws.

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IN COVENTRY France and Spain, Mr Wild said: "This has not escaped our attention.' A week ago Chrysler's managing director Gibert Hunt threatened to halt investment in the UK unless the Ryton men returned to work.

Mr Wild described machinery at the Stoke factory as 'Victorian' and he claimed there was no indication of new investment.

He claimed Chrysler's action was in opposition to trade union practices.

there was a restriction on the amount of money which could be offered under the laws, he said.

But what the workers wanted and the company had consistently refused was an indication that there would be firm progress towards parity when the situation permitted.

Barring an Ilth-hour climbdown by the company, the last worker was expected to leave the factory at 10.30 p.m. last night.

Eighty per cent of Perkins' engines are exported, but the shut-down is almost certain to have a rapid effect on production at Massey's Coventry and Kilmarnock plants.

No further meetings between the company and the union are scheduled, and no more mass meetings were arranged yesterday morning. BELLE VUE The latest dispute took place against a background of a general tightening up of efficiency throughout the Mr Carty added: 'We cannot understand the attitude of this company. They seem to want to put themselves out of business.

'All we are asking them to do is to sit round a table with the Ryton stewards!

Chrysler has said negotiations cannot be opened until the men return to work. JUNE FUND WE ARE now very concerned for our June Fund. Days are slipping by and the response is much too slow. We rely entirely on you to help us reach our target of £1,750. Let's all go into action right away.

As thousands of workers become involved in battles at Chrysler's, Ford's, Perkins' and other factories throughout the country only Workers Press can provide them with a clear, political lead.

More than ever we need to expand our circulation and reach out into more districts. So don't waste another moment. Post all donations immedlately to:

186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG he Pageant film 'THE ROAD TO WORKERS POW ER' and songs and scenes from history Tickets £1: Available from R. Smith, 60 Wellington Street West, Salford 7, Manchester Telfers WORKERS at a Manchester electrical instrument factory decided to black work yesterday in support of staff who are demanding equal pay. Salford Hantrina inctriments. MATT of the GEC combine, turned down a pro-