Harbin promised government cash

Workers Press no. 752, 29 April 1972 · scan pages 2, 3

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THE TEXAN oil rig builders, Marathon Manufacturing, will get government money it needs to take over the Clydebank division of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders if agreements with the unions can be worked out.

This was announced yesterday by Christopher Chataway, Secretary for Trade and Industry. A meeting began almost immediately in London between I Marathon chairman Wayne Harbin, boilermakers' leader Danny McGarvey and shop stewards and union officials from Clydeside.

Harbin has already said he wants to negotiate a four-year, no-strike contract in exchange for a wage deal with a cost- of-living clause.

Harbin said he intends to employ 2,000 at Clydebank. At present 2,068 hourly paid workers are employed there and 380 staff.

If the company and unions can agree, it will give the green light to the other firm which wants to build ships on the upper Clyde Govan Shipbuilders. Shop stewards have insisted in the past that there should be no compulsory redundancies.

Marathon plan a £25m to £35m investment at Clydebank. The company hopes to start on July 24. Harbin will fly back to Texas today to discuss the deal with his board.

Devlin and After on Tuesday The BBC introduces Code of Conduct to tame the staff.

Special Correspondent Leslie Stewart examines Censorship and the BBC Massey rejection MASS meetings of day- and night-shift workers at MasseyFerguson, the Coventry-based tractor manufacturer, £2.50 whelmingly rejected a week wage increase offered by the company yesterday.

The offer was in reply to a claim for £8 across-the-board with no strings, a 35-hour week, four days' additional holiday and a pension scheme giving £1,000 on retirement.

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