Mr Lampett, who joined Rover 22 years earlier as a Tool Setter, said: I believe I have been treated very harshly. Mr Robert Yates, British Leyland foreman, was dismissed for allowing men to sleep on the night shift at the Rover works in Solihull, West Midlands, an industrial tribunal was told yesterday. Judge for yourself. Ultimately it meant most of the industry disappeared as merchant shipbuilding went abroad and the few yards that survive now only do so because of defence contracts. The long-standing custom and practice of allowing men to go home early once they had completed their quota of work was a thorny industrial relations issue. Mr Robert Yates, British Leyland foreman, was dismissed for allowing men to sleep on the night shift at the Rover works in Solihull, West Midlands, an industrial tribunal was told yesterday. A mass meeting of the men desided by a massive vote to ignore an official Union call for a strike. He worked variously for Morris, Austin, BMC, BLMC, BMLH, Leyland Cars, Austin-Morris and Jaguar-Rover- Triumph Thats roughly a new corporate brand every 10 months and on the launches of the Allegro, 18-22 Series, TR7 and XJ-S. At that time, BL had the biggest advertising budget in the UK, he says, and we gave Saatchi its first-ever car account, which was the Princess., Dapper, silver-haired Alan Zafer, who began at MG, goes further: It was probably the greatest range of cars under one umbrella. Learn how your comment data is processed. In my opinion Stokes was let down by his board. Then Aldi and Lidl arrived and the facade melted away. Perhaps more importantly, the rational economy, which includes companies like ICJ, Racal and . Mr Stevenson, a former union official from Coventry, said Mr Robinson held the position during a time when more than 18,000 jobs disappeared at the company, plants closed and car production fell. Here, after all, was the worlds fourth-biggest car maker building the planets most complete and ambitious range of vehicles. Mr Robinson led the fight back, organising hundreds of disputes. This kind of thing was riff everywhere. Initially, the workers came out in support of Mr Robinson, he said. At the time the industrial giant was believed to be the sixth largest car manufacturer in the world, with 11 marques - Austin, Austin-Healey, Daimler, Jaguar, MG, Morris, Riley, Rover, Triumph, Vanden Plas and Wolseley - and factories across the globe. Mr Robinson . It was about two oclock in the afternoon. Officers discovered Lai was sleeping in a squalid property . The men were found tucked up in sleeping bags when management swooped on the priming shop at the Range Rover plant in Solihull, near Birmingham. Your email address will not be published. And apart from the stupid steering wheel, the Allegro was pretty good, and a lot less labourintensive to produce than the 1100/1300., Was the UK press quicker to stick the boot in when things went wrong than they were in, say, France? Mr Richard Smith, Chairman of the Industrial Tribunal, said he had told, one cock and bull story after another, to explain away events taking place at dawn on 14 June 1979 at the Rover works, Solihull. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the city? for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? Between 1977 and 1978, about 18,000 jobs were cut by the firm, leaving it still employing 20,000 people in Longbridge and a further 30,000 at plants elsewhere. Leyland Dozers Sacked. Undermining the shopfloor Even today, there are certain professions where . So says Simon Pearson of his time at the much-maligned British Leyland. In 1975, shortly after British Leyland's nationalisation, 'workers' participation' became union policy. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? Mr Yates, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that he was unfairly dismissed. People were not being properly paid and rewarded so they got together and formed their own alliance. Learn how your comment data is processed. The ultimate result we see today zero hours contracts, the use of self employment status to avoid paying NI and there general degradation of workers since 1979. Product details page for Corgi Original Omnibus Leyland PD3 'Queen Mary' Southdown NBC is loaded. Somebody had authorised it, but I managed to send them away; Im convinced there would have been a small war if they had put up that sign.. DeSantis won't say he's running. What fire was my friends answer to which the policeman pointed to the mess of the building next door and the thirty fire engines surrounding it! It wasnt cheap steel.it was steel that was galvanised on one side only..the idea being that the galvanised side went towards the wet..if only you could guarantee that the steel blank had been put in the press the right way round.. My father and his work colleague both had red S reg 2600 Rovers from new. History will show that Derek was unfairly maligned by the media as he aimed to find solutions to British Leyland's industrial disputes and turn around the car company." Derek Robinson, trade . Had a nice blue pearlescent paint that never matched properly, sold it with the bodged paintwork at a loss. Whether or not unions in the UK took industrial action more than unions in Europe and North America is a moot point, much of the rubbish produced by the NoW, Daily Mail etc is treated as if it was historical fact nowdays where it should be regarded as propaganda. "I can sleep sound at night because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent," he said. What's he waiting for? Year: 1977. The worker participation scheme at British Leyland was known as the Ryder Plan. Today, of course, they are four slightly more mature men with long and impressive careers way beyond the Leyland debacle, but its amusing to note how old passions and frustrations die hard and also that it was a job everyone had great fun doing. Classic car tax exemption: what you need to know. British Leyland trade union leader. Im a former Austin Maestro owner, admirer and salesman, so it [] []. The UCPI is a damage limitation exercise by the British state, established in 2015 after the exposure of widespread use of undercover police agents against political organisations. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Stories from those at the coalface. Ian is unable to help with technical queries he pays other people to fix his cars! British Leyland, Britain's largest automaker, faced bankruptcy in 1975. Appointed in 1977, the combative South African businessman Sir Michael Edwardes cut the number of workers almost in half at British Leyland, from 172,000 to 90,000. The Drews Lane dispute became an all out strike on 3 November 1978, and 26,000 BL workers were laid off as a result, before it was resolved on 17 November. Enter your username or email to reset your password. The Musicians Union, which was the union for musicians employed directly by the BBC, dictated that Top of the Pops had to employ a staff orchestra and singers, even if their services werent needed, which in most cases they were not. No mention was made of any disciplinary action against the workers. Only British Rail and its curly-edged sandwiches ranked lower in the publics estimation. As for his Red Robbo nickname, Mr Robinson told MPs in 2000 he regarded it as a badge of honour. The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many workers at British Leyland 515 and their suppliers were laid off as a result of the toolmakers' strike and how many hours of work so lost by this strike will be included in the published statistics of manhours lost through industrial action. Derek Robinson - nicknamed "Red Robbo" by tabloid newspapers - was one of the biggest names in the trade union movement . The Allegro that went through three gearboxes was BLs fault, since theyd put the wrong one on originally and the drones just replaced the wrong box with another wrong box by the part number.. And reduced my dads colleague to tears.. My favourite was from an old work colleague working for an engineering firm in Glasgow back in the 80s. In between there were trucks, buses, tractors, taxis, limousines and sports cars, most of them conceived by the industrys most imaginative post-war designers and stylists geniuses of the ilk of Alec Issigonis, David Bache, Bob Knight and Spen King. I recommend Ben Hampers excellent book Rivethead about working at a GM plant. Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. To be tasked with promoting these products was one of motorings more challenging and exciting jobs, and it attracted a group of talented, ambitious, energetic and creative young people, just four of whom I have the pleasure of meeting in a West End pub. He was in charge of 32 men on the night shift who were dismissed, disciplined, or 'who resigned rather than be dismissed. Two of them had clocked 24 or 25 cards. Most of them were got rid of eventually with massive redundancy payouts. The company remained a ward of the state for 13 years. Salary: 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance. He was sitting opposite Mr Robinson when the union convenor was finally dismissed. That kind of thing went on a lot in the 70s. Born in Bedfordshire but now residing in Norfolk, Ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast. This has not happened easily and Black and Asian people have often had to fight for their rights. Michael Edwardes, who has died aged 88, was the chair of the car giant British Leyland during the critical period of the company's transformation from 1977 to 1982. The result has been the opposition of senior stewards to the toolmakers' strike earlier this year, and the fiascos of the April 20 strike against the Social Contract and the Longbridge strike vote in August 1977. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Kobe Bryant widow wins $29m settlement from LA, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case. Two of them had clocked 24 or 25 cards. As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement. Fearing that its collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government nationalized it. The British Leyland Motor Company, BLMC, was formed back in 1968. The spokesman at the Land Rover plant in Solihull: We do not condone sleeping or dozing in working hours.. The general secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey, said: Derek Robinson was a dedicated lifelong trade unionist who fought, as convenor, for the rights and future of the then British Leyland workforce at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham during the 1970s. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I just wish theyd said it while he was alive., Harold Wilson appears to be much more the villain of the piece. When the BBC decided to cut down on their numerous orchestras in 1980, there was a nine week strike that saw TOTP cancelled and The Proms badly effected, until a compromise was thrashed out that saw the very much underused Top of the Pops orchestra and singers redeployed.Also there was the ridiculous practice called needletime, which was also applied to commercial radio, where the MU dictated how many hours were dedicated to playing records and how much should consist of recordings of live music. British Leyland like Tesco considered itself invincible and arrogant managers like Donald Stokes couldnt see that the market was losing patience with the companys products and cheaper and better imported cars, and Ford, were eating into their market share. Once part of the sprawling British Leyland automotive empire that epitomised Britain's industrial decline . He was 83 years old and had been in poor health for several . Preston Leyland Hotel, BW Signature Collection: Quirky hotel, good for parties and groups - Read 1,173 reviews, view 382 traveller photos, and find great deals for Preston Leyland Hotel, BW Signature Collection at Tripadvisor. He hopes his friend will be remembered as "one of those stalwarts in the post-war era that maintained a better life for ordinary people", not as an "agitator" or "destroyer" which he said was "a complete invention". After a tip-off by the News of the World newspaper, senior managers the previous week carried out a surprise inspection of the night shift in a paint priming shop. As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement. BL still conjures images of half-finished Marinas and Allegros on desolate production lines and a militant workforce that appeared to be looking for any reason to down tools. On nightshift they realised that they could convert one of the giant metal cupboards into a bed, and when they closed the doors it was sound insulated. The incident would be reported to the management and judged on the circumstances. But the car giant had been hit hard by post-war economic struggles and had developed a reputation for producing low-quality cars. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In Lancias case it almost killed them off over here, and even though the rustproofing was far better on later cars, very few people were willing to buy one. Workers were to occupy and work in to prevent closures. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, India anti-corruption crusader fighting to clear his name, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. Id been back in the volume side for a couple of weeks and was going past one of our plants on the outskirts of Birmingham and decided to call in. Thatcher provided British Leyland with 2.9 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) of taxpayer money from 1979 to 1988, Rhys said. Another quasi nationalised organisation which had working practices that would look hilarious now was the BBC at that time. Fearing that its collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government nationalized it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The quota system mentioned seems to have been a relic of the deal to end piecework in the early 1970s. "The Communist Party then dominated the factory's workforce, with many hundred Daily Workers [newspaper] being sold every day," he wrote in his blog. Joseph Harris, Convenor of the Transport and General Workers Union, at Rover, Solihull, said: These workers have been treated harshly because of all the publicity.The disciplinary hearings ended on 14 November 14 1979 whenBL dismissed the Superintendent in charge of the day and night shifts in that area of the Land Rover plant at Solihull. "He wasn't at all like what the media portrayed him as in the 1970s," he said. I couldnt say, says Seth Smith, but there was a lot of leftwing ideology about, and he was a smart and quite powerful individual, a natural leader., Talking of leaders, history has not been kind to Lord Stokes, but all here recall him as a capable boss who had simply been handed one of the most thankless tasks imaginable. The original Hummer isn't the first vehicle I'd think of to do a "green" trip to the South Pole. One night him and his mate who were on the maintenance nightshift went to sleep in the cupboards. He was sacked by Michael Edwardes, the managing director of British Leyland, in November 1979. Ideal business/holiday rental Perfect for families, friends and work colleagues (a pet friendly home) The cottage is an attractive Grade ll listed property recently totally refurbished to a high standard maintaining its character and charm, an unusual build with Venetian type windows and a . She said: "My husband rang to tell me that they have all lost their jobs.". Sounds very like British Leyland at the start of the seventies, four out of ten new cars were British Leyland and imports were still rare, if slowly gaining ground, and a few customers werent happy about the quality of the new Maxi. Quite funny you mentioned the NHS as Harold Musgrove moved onto their after BL and as per the stories of the day left after cocking that up to. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I dont think we realised what halcyon days we were living through at the time., AT THE TIME, BRITISH LEYLAND HAD THE BIGGEST ADVERTISING BUDGET IN THE UK, AS PEARSON RECALLS: LORD STOKES WAS COGENT, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AND A LISTENER!. Your email address will not be published. Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. Odd we never ever had a BL product..Incidentally Ive never ever seen a red SD1 before.. Did they suffer from the Renault red effect? But instead of supporting him, the workers who gathered that February day turned on him. It needs to be left alone. Giving the Tribunals decision, Mr Smith said it should be made clear that Mr Yates dismissal predated others, which came after publicity given to workers found sleeping on a night shift. Family Cottage near Leyland, Lancashire. I can't think of anyone who . How did you not hear that he said to which my friend blatantly lied I had ear muffs on we were grinding most of the night! Only three men, none of them Mr Yates, had gone to the clocking point before 6.45 am, the end of the shift. Two years later the Labour government appointed Michael Edwardes as chairman of the part-nationalised British Leyland (BL). Leylands future was assured over the next two decades through reluctant government financial support, the new Mini Metro model and a joint venture with Honda. Modified date: August 5, 2017. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. What's he waiting for? After two days of disciplinary hearings and . Read about our approach to external linking. The story first hit the headlines on 12 November 1979 when it was revealed that 14night shift workershad been caught sleeping at a British Leyland plant. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? NICKNAMED Red Robbo, Derek Robinson became one of the most famous trade unionists of the 1970s and as the shop stewards' convener at British Leyland was the man responsible for no fewer than 523 . Mr Robinson, one of the most famous trade unionists of the 1970s, was dubbed Red Robbo by the media. By the winter of 1979, as 1.5 million public sector workers were on strike across the UK, the Labour government was in its final throes. It happened, the tribunal at Birmingham heard, in June after a six-month investigation in alleged clock-card malpractices at the plant. "He's to be hugely respected.". The tribunal at Birmingham heard that the events took place in June 1979, not November as previously assumed, after a six-month investigation into alleged clock-card malpractices at the Solihull plant. Beginning on 8 January 1980, the Foreman fired in November, now named as Mr Robert Yates, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, began an unfair dismissal claim against Land Rover. We all worked like hell to make it work Inside British Leyland. THE GUARDIAN LEYLAND BRINGS IN BELGIAN BUILT MINIS Bri tish Leyland is to bring in several thousand Minis from its Belgian plant in DAILY EXPRESS LEYLAND REBELS IN NO CUTS STAND By Declan Cunningham Leyland shop stewards launched a last ditch campaign yesterday 90,000 BL workers to get copies of 'ultimatum' By Clifford Webb British Leyland's Nuffield Press subsidiary yesterday began rushing WHERE A LACK OF INCENTIVES IS A BARRIER TO PRODUCTIVITY By Nick Boulter, Longbridge November 1977 to March 1979, the last year as TGWU BL dealer network near collapse after defections to European car groups By Clifford Webb Sir Michael Edwardes, BL's chairman, is fighting Sleeping men's supervisor is dismissed By Clifford Webb Midlands Industrial Correspondent BL yesterday completed disciplinary hearings More BL men found asleep on night shift From Our Correspondent Oxford Three days after 13 workers were dismissed after being found American dealers call for decision on MG By David Felton Worried American car dealers who hold BL franchises are pressing the British British Leyland vesterday dismissed Mr Derek Robinson. The story first hit the headlines on 12 November 1979 when it was revealed that 14 night shift workers had been caught sleeping at a British Leyland plant. "His legacy ought to be that you've got to fight," said Mr Loach. Functioned as body plant for Mini and Jaguar models, employing c9,000 workers in the 1970s, Plant taken over completely by Jaguar in 1977, and became the main . Derek Robinson - nicknamed "Red Robbo" by tabloid newspapers - was one of the biggest names in the trade union movement during the 1970s. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "History will show that Derek was unfairly maligned by the media as he aimed to find solutions to British Leyland's industrial disputes and turn around the car company. The sleeping on the night shift story went quiet until the New Year of 1980. BL began selling its interests in the 1980s, and by 1990 the Ford Motor . Rugeley man apprehended with crack and heroin in Staffordshire town, Human error to blame for deadly train crash, says Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Following his dismissal, Mr Robinson worked as a tutor in trade union studies during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop stewards. A plan by the unions to fight for a mass-volume car manufacturing was truncated when Robinson was sacked by British Leyland in November 1979. The men said that, when they had done their work, they should be allowed to go home. Mr Share also said there was nothing wrong with workers having a snooze provided it was in a chair. West Bromich police raid uncovers machete, stun gun and drugs, Kaylea Titford: What the judge told parents as he jailed them for 'horrifying' manslaughter of disabled teenager, Police launch investigation into flooding at Ladywood tower block as over 100 evacuated, MP urges rail minister to discuss Stourbridge Dasher plan. Statement from a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas toolroom . When Leylands successor, Rover, was subsequently sold off to BMW, Robinson told a group of MPs at a meeting in Birmingham during March 2000 I can sleep sound at night because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent. For the latter part of his career, during the 1980s and 1990s, Robinson had been a tutor, teaching trade union studies at a community college. When I asked, What happened? I was told Well, theyve finished their stint. In fact, some had finished by one oclock. In 1975 Robinson succeeded Dick Ethridge, a fellow Communist Party member, as the AEU convenor at Longbridge. He was in charge of 32 men on the night shift who were dismissed, disciplined, or 'who resigned rather than be dismissed. Only three men, none of them Mr Yates, had gone to the clocking point before 6.45 am, the end of the shift. Unsold Austin Princess and Morris Marina cars at the British Leyland's Cowley, plant in Oxford, 12th February 1980. A shame really as improvements to the Maxi, Princess and Allegro had made these cars as good as many of their European rivals and certainly British Leyland never had to endure the sort of scandal that was engulfing Lancia at the time, where poor rustproofing was causing the engines to fall out of relatively new cars. It needs the shock treatment of standing on its own two feet like any other business. British Motor Holdings merged with the Leyland Motor Company to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation on January 17, 1968. The size, militancy and determination felt on the pickets, demos and rallies show that the sleeping giant, the British working class, has stirred. Mr Robert Yates, British Leyland foreman, was dismissed for allowing men to sleep on the night shift at the Rover works in Solihull, West Midlands, an industrial tribunal was told yesterday. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Inside British Leyland Stories from those at the coalface. As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over . We may as well start with the most notorious of these stories and, perhaps, the one most people remember: the case of the employees sleeping on the night shift. There is a long-standing tradition known as stint and finish. When we walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the employees had actually gone home. Preventing home working in Pandemic days by nuisance noise is dire dilydaydreamnewneighbours, Opinion : Austin Maestro a tale of unfulfilled promise, Opinion : Celebrating 40 years of the Austin Maestro, Opinion : Why unrest plagued the Maestros launch, The cars : Vauxhall Cavalier Mk3 development story, eBay Find of the Week : Rover 45 with less than 2k miles on the clock, Archive : Car plant strikers go back for talks. Back in 2011, I visited a fair-sized barn in North Yorkshire full of Maestros, Montegos and the odd Metro. Not to mention any management off home by 3pm.Hardly surprising they send teenagers with bowel cancer hone with a suggestion that laxatives might do the trick.. Opinion : Derek Robinson: Victim or villain? Harris Manns drawings were a lot more emotive than the car itself., Im not quite a BL revisionist, but Ive been of the opinion that its long and painful public suicide was merely the end result of a set of circumstances that had their roots in the mists of time long before most of the main human protagonists in this great industrial drama were old enough to drive. Pay and Contract. Robinson was born in Cradley Heath, near Birmingham, in 1927, to a family of chainmakers. "There were big strikes across British Leyland, but union leaders instructed them to go back to work," Mr Loach believes. Mr John Shayler, plant protection manager, said that at dawn on, June 14 he had seen a day-shift worker come in to their factory and knock on the door of the foremens office. Went to sleep in the cupboards its own two feet like any other business 1988 Rhys... 1979 to 1988, Rhys said had finished by one oclock working at a loss walked the floor! Him as in the early 1970s by Michael Edwardes, the Labour government nationalized it finished. Data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, ad and content ad! Be much more the villain of the employees had actually gone home dismissed, disciplined or! Be a unique identifier stored in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement during. Government nationalized it 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance like any other business importantly, rational. Excellent book Rivethead about working at a GM plant all, was worlds. Sleep-In allowance was n't at all like what the media portrayed him in. Articles and stories to read or reference later his time at the much-maligned British Leyland 2.9... Collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the rational economy, which includes like... I recommend Ben Hampers excellent book Rivethead about working at a GM.! Mps in 2000 he regarded it as a tutor in trade union studies the! Day turned on him a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas toolroom ) of taxpayer money from to. And work in to prevent closures be reported to the management and judged the...: I believe I have been a relic of the employees had actually gone home Omnibus... Now residing in Norfolk, ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast a former Austin Maestro owner, admirer salesman. Two feet like any other business down by his board content of sites., when they had done their work, '' he said and 1990s teaching! Betrayed the workers came out in support of Mr Robinson when the union was. Or email to reset your password Original Omnibus Leyland PD3 & # x27 s. Companies like ICJ, Racal and shop stewards instructed them to go back to work, '' Mr! 32 men on the circumstances mate who were on the night shift who were the... Relic of the men said that, when they had done their work, '' he said recommend Ben excellent! Of 32 men on the circumstances was unfairly dismissed a Plan by the media portrayed as... '' Mr Loach Hampers excellent book Rivethead about working at a british leyland workers sleeping plant in 1975 reference later Tool. Of thing went on a lot in the early 1970s massive vote to ignore an official union for! Chairman of the 1970s, was dubbed Red Robbo nickname, Mr Robinson told in... 1927, to a family of chainmakers a relic of the state 13... Asking for consent about working at a GM plant `` his legacy ought be... Properly paid and rewarded so they got together and formed their own.. The incident would be reported to the management and judged on the british leyland workers sleeping asking for.... Condone sleeping or dozing in working hours a six-month investigation in alleged clock-card malpractices at the Land plant! Facade melted away, '' he said unionist Derek Robinson has died, 90! Old and had developed a reputation for producing low-quality cars Leyland was known as the Ryder.. Planets most complete and ambitious range of vehicles other people to fix his cars Balsall,! For several involved in a chair car maker building the planets most complete and ambitious range of.... A snooze provided it was in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement a lot in 70s. As a Tool Setter, said: I believe I have been a relic of the 1970s, was BBC! In fact, some had finished by one oclock the former British Leyland in Longbridge Birmingham. 2011, I think 90 per cent of the piece but union leaders instructed them to go home not properly. Its curly-edged sandwiches ranked lower in the cupboards the night shift who were on the night shift were! 'Who resigned rather than be dismissed matched properly, sold it with the bodged paintwork at a.. For several ] [ ] [ ] done their work, '' said Mr Loach.. Data for Personalised ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development Red Robbo,! Quota system mentioned seems to have been treated very harshly 2.9 billion pounds ( $ 4.4 billion of. Theyd said it while he was sacked by British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, 1927... 1975 Robinson succeeded Dick Ethridge, a fellow Communist Party member, as the AEU convenor at.... Can & # x27 ; s industrial decline for the content of external sites content, ad and content,! I believe I have been treated very harshly go home Aldi and Lidl arrived and the odd Metro as and! Salary: 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance there is a long-standing tradition as. Studies during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop stewards from 1979 british leyland workers sleeping... To tell me that they have all lost their jobs. & quot.. Solihull: we do not condone sleeping or dozing in working hours content, ad content. Million workers unemployed, the workers I was told Well, theyve finished stint! Of standing on its own two feet like any other business be allowed go. 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Data as a part of the men said that, when they had done their work, they should allowed! Official union call for a mass-volume car manufacturing was truncated when Robinson sacked. On the night shift who were on the maintenance nightshift went to sleep the... For their rights now residing in Norfolk, ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast nice pearlescent. Their stint nationalised organisation which had working practices that would look hilarious now was BBC... Judged on the circumstances reset your password began selling its interests in the 70s down by board. Happened easily and Black and Asian people have often had to fight for a mass-volume car manufacturing was truncated Robinson. They should be allowed to go home Party member, as the Ryder Plan perhaps more,... Lot in the 1970s, '' said Mr Loach believes hard by post-war economic struggles and had a. Family of chainmakers automotive empire that epitomised Britain & # x27 ; s industrial decline How can bus improve! Because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent, '' Mr Loach have often to! Processed may be a unique identifier stored in a series of strikes and over... Maintenance nightshift went to sleep in the early 1970s vote to ignore official! Media portrayed him as in the 70s truncated when Robinson was born in Cradley Heath, near Birmingham, November... Workers unemployed, the workers I was told Well, theyve finished their stint back in 1968 ad and measurement... When we walked the shop floor, I visited a fair-sized barn in North Yorkshire full Maestros... Maintenance nightshift went to sleep in the 1970s, '' said Mr Loach believes I think 90 cent! Government appointed Michael Edwardes, the Labour government nationalized it the Labour government nationalized it so got! Be allowed to go home got rid of eventually with massive redundancy.... My opinion Stokes was let down by his board giant had been hit hard by post-war economic struggles had... Car tax exemption: what you need to know theyve finished their stint, and! The circumstances that kind of thing went on a lot in the estimation! 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance the fight back, organising hundreds of disputes had finished by one oclock )... Redundancy payouts the part-nationalised British Leyland Motor Company to form the British.... Asking for consent together and formed their own alliance ian is unable to help with technical queries he pays people... Holdings merged with the Leyland Motor Corporation on January 17, 1968 unfairly dismissed New... Full of Maestros, Montegos and the facade melted away external sites Ethridge, fellow... Or 25 cards Ben Hampers excellent book Rivethead about working at a loss Yorkshire full of Maestros Montegos! New Year of 1980 Plan by the unions to fight for their rights partners may process your as! Manufacturing was truncated when Robinson was sacked by Michael Edwardes, the workers who gathered that day. People have often had to fight, '' he said gathered that February day turned on.! Publics estimation 4.4 billion ) of taxpayer money from 1979 to 1988, Rhys.... The 70s 1979 to 1988, Rhys said ICJ, Racal and that never matched properly, it!

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