Hawker Siddeley mass meeting today over alleged run-down Occupation lock-out

STEPHEN WORKERS at a missile components factory at Bolton, Lanout staff on the second day of their occupation cashire, locked yesterday.

Hundreds of office and canteen workers turned up at the Hawker Siddeley plant at Lostock, near Bolton, but they founc the main gate padlocked and the strikers inside the plant. The occupation came on Monday decided to take over the plant The strike is over a management bid to introduce semi-skilled workers into the factory's skilled milling section.

Convenor David Jameson said the occupation had forced management's hand. "They started negotiations immediately we took over and climbed down convenor C avid Jameson. Two bosses have close business links Perkins-Chrysler hard-line The Peterborough workers are mood and must not be drawn into fight with Social Security. after 2,000 production workers after a three-week dispute.

from their original position,' said.

Proposals will be put to a mass meeting by shop stewards today. Trouble at Lostock had been brewing for some time.

And the milling room dispute was only the spark that caused the explosion.

Said Mr Jameson: 'This is a warning to the company. Things on the shop fioor have been deteriorating for some time.

'For years men have been leaving but have not been replaced. This has meant a deterioration of conditions. Engineers had to run all over the place to do their own progresschasing.

'Management decided to put in the semi-skilled men knowing full well this would cause a dispute. But we hope we have taught them a lesson, he said.

by the Massey Ferguson corporation 15 vears ago and built up into the largest producer of diesel engines in the world.

It supplies engines for the Massey Ferguson factory at Coventry, plus V8 diesels to Ford's, Dodge engines for the Chrysler's and two ranges of engines for the British-Leyland Motor Corporation.

Prichard is group vice-president of the Canadian parent company, Massey Ferguson Limited, Toronto, and its UK subsidiary, Massey Ferguson (Holdings)

Limited.

His other main business interest is the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders where, from 1967 to 1970, he was the society's vice-president. He still sits on important committees which directly aftect the British car industry.

It just so happens that the head of the Society is none other than Sir Gilbert Hunt. Last Thursday the council re-elected him chairman of the society for the second successive year.

He and Prichard are old business acquaintances.

From 1960 to 1967 Hunt sat on several boards of the Massey Ferguson group with ... Prichard. Hunt was managing director of Massey Ferguson (UK) Limited and joint managing director of determined Massey Ferguson Perkins. arawn into a alversionary diversionary The other joint managing director was Prichard! THE MAN behind the lock-out of 5,700 workers at Perkins Engines, Peterborough, is Sir Monty Prichard. The man behind the attack on workers' wages and basic rights at Chrysler's in Coventry is Sir On the surface both men would independent and separate wars forces. This, however, is not the have very close business associațio Montague Illtyd Prichard • is chairman and managing director of the Perkins Engines Group• The firm was taken over red-out of Gilbert Hunt. appear to be waging against their work case. The two men ns, as we shall show Perkins' boss Prichard.

Although many of these interrelationships have not been brought together before, many of the pickets at Perkins are convinced that the attacks are part of a concerted campaign by the foreign-owned motor manufacturers.

"They are taking us on to break our standard of living,' said one of the shop stewards on the line. 'When they threaten to close down and move out, we have to take them seriously these days. The international situation is such a mystery they could be planning anything' The Perkins workers at the four plants-Eastfield, Queen Street, Fletton and Walton-have been locked out following a 22-week dispute in which they have been demanding parity with the Massey Ferguson workers in Coventry.

Their first eye-opener has been the attitude of the Tory Press and television. •We're painted as complete villains,' said one outraged picket. "They. keep saying we want a £20-a-week increase. This isn't the case at all. We want the management to give us firm undertakings as to when we tie-up can reach parity with Coventry-two years, five years hence.

'But they refuse to give us any commitment on this. The Press says that Prichard has made concessions on this. But where are they? What concessions? These are lies being put around to confuse people. It's part of the psychological warfare!

Two engineers who went to work on Monday at the Queen Street works decided better of it yesterday.

The men were jostled and needed a police escort out of thi gates on Monday afternoon. The local committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers is to investigate the men's conduct.

'We can't let this pass,' said one picket. 'We remember Goad and Langston.' Picketing has been exGET YOUR BOOKS. PERIODICALS AND 28 CHARLOWE SIREET LONDON, WI Open Monday™to Seatmadiery tended this week to the local labour exchange. The men have been refused dole money because it is claimed they are on strike. Men carried placards which said: "The only people we are in dispute with is the DEP' (Department of EmployThis slogan-suggested by a nearby branch of the Claimants' Union-is totally erroneous and diversionary.

The Perkins workers are in dispute with the Massey Ferguson monopoly and the Tory government whose state pay laws prevent the payment of anything like the parity rates being demanded.

The Claimants' Union intervention is therefore an attempt to derail the dispute into something about Social Security when it is really about the fight for decent wages and against the Tories' state pay laws.

IDERS FROM THE