Cheer goes up as officials are voted down

Nation of Ohio.

John Sims steward said were hedged and buts. ATTEMPTS by union officials to lift the tenweek occupation of the Thornycroft plant, Basingstoke, Hants were decisively thrown out by a mass meeting yesterday.

Bill John, executive council member of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers was repeatedly heckled during the 90-minute meeting as he recommended acceptance of the proposals made at York last week.

Then the 500 men at the meeting voted two to one to reject his pleas. They also reaffirmed Sunday's decision to maintain their sit-in until British-Leyland 'unscrambles' the hiving-off deal with the Eaton CorporWhen the result was known a huge cheer went _ up from stewards guarding the gate to prevent a tew non-trade unionists from gaining entry.

It was an overwhelming defeat for the AUEW national leadership which has been trying to end the sit-in in return for talks with Lord Stokes about Leyland's future plans.

The proposals brought from York amounted to nothing more than a short delay in the Eaton take-over and gave no guarantees of work.

AUEW steward Albert Robinson, was jubilant with results of the meeting.

'This is a victory for the whole trade union movement. we haven't abandoned the cause, but the executive has, he told me.

"The talks last week were exploratory. Yet they came down here with a recommendation.

another AUEW the 'guarantees' with so many ifs "They talk in terms of "subject to market conditions". But we know Eaton's produce a cheaper gear box at their Bolton factory. So little work would come here.

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October Appeal Fund 186a Clapham Hig', St London SW& 7UG. Thornycroft workers reject end sit-in plea John • SIms: ' Too many buts about the proposala 'e and "This meeting today never have been held.' A young T&GWU worker, Mike Barney, was overjoyed with the vote. 'We won the day,' he said. 'Bill John put his case and then had to admit he was defeated. The proposals are absolute rubbish with no guarantees whatsoever' The secretary of the occupation committee reaffirmed the Thornycroft workers' determination to continue the fight they began when they took over the factory on August 15.

'Quite definitely we still need combine support. British-Leyland workers have gained from our fight.' A TOTAL of 844,640 people registered as unemployed Britain and Northern Irelan: the time of the Departmen Employment's monthly coun! on October 9.

Wage Law Tom Lowis: i ope the lessors will Learned throughout Britain.' CIN Mike Barney: We won the day. Bill John had to admit he was defeated.'