A RECENT strike at the BL Land Rover plant in Cardiff defeated management attacks on the union organisation. venor of the Joint Shop stewards committee spoke in personal capacity to Barry Wilkins.
The BL attitude unionism is. the background to this issue Through aggressive Edwardes style llallaser ment BL are attempting to bypass the trade organisations. win lirect control over the minds or tne memoership.
They use the fear of mounLUSC keep trade unionists in line and to dampen protest at the sacking leaders like Derek Robinson and Alan Thornett.
At Land Rover in Cardiff the membership a few ycals azu had become disillusioned with the union. The plant had been down through voluntary redunGEOFF STOCKHAM AUEW condancy without much op. position and there was a the national union leaderships.
The stewards committee recognised that a new approach was needed - to rebuild closer links with the membership the shop floor to defeat the influence of the company.
We aimed to rebuild solidarity amongst the workforce by taking up the issues that faced the members ensuring regular reports trom stewards back to the secGradually we have turned the situation around earned the confidence of the membership For example the 1981-82 pay deal the plant voted for industrial action which was against the na. tiona trend in BL last year by a large majorithe LCDC SILIS supported a half-day strike in solidarity with the health workers. Threats There have been continual threats to the shop stewards' organisation management. They wanted to test our real support on the shop floor. Management took their Stammer Tew Weeks ago when they attempted fundamentaliv alle the role of trade unions on site.
This led to a five day suspension myself convenor. If this had succeeded it would have opened tIle way my dismissal. Then any steward or member would have been at risk.
The stewards' commitrecommended imICC mediate strike action. The members overwhelmingly agreed. They saw clearly that this was a testing time tor tne wnole memoership and union organisation he plant.
We went on strike for days with ule allu a lidi. 100 per cent solid support from the workforce. A national conference was called involving management represennational Lalive. local level.
A general meeting agreed a return to work on the understanding that if the disciplinary action was not unconditionally withgeneral OFFICIAL