Keith Narey Archive | ETOL Main Page
From Militant, No. 675, 11 November 1983, p. 11.
Transcribed by Iain Dalton.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
WORKERS AT the Carter Gear Works, Bradford, part of the Renold combine, walked out a week last Tuesday in protest at staff defying overtime bans.
A claim was made for a £10 increase in May this year. Management refused to offer any money and said instead that a new incentive scheme was being proposed. This scheme would have meant cuts in wages of up to 25% per week.
The overtime ban was imposed over the question of the wages, it being decided to keep this low key, understanding that the main battle would be against the new so-called incentive proposals.
Management gave an undertaking that the overtime would not be breached over the weekend by staff doing the work of hourly paid employees. However, on Saturday morning, one staff member came in and was instructed to do some fitting work.
When the workers found out on Monday morning, management said that it was a mistake, and would not happen again. However, a mass meeting of the workers refused to believe the management, and a motion from the shop floor for an immediate one-day walk out was carried unanimously. It was decided to return to work on the following day, and to use this action as a shot across the bows of the management, but any further breaches of the overtime ban would have similar consequences.
Keith Narey Archive | ETOL Main Page
Last updated: 6 May 2017