Industrial Notes

from David Robinson, Roberts Arundel Campaign, A further one-day token strike is planned by workers in the North-West in support of those in dispute with Roberts Arundel. Representatives from the Stockport Tra&es Council and the strike committee have discussed the date of the strike with Horace Newbold, secretary of the Lancashire Federation of Trades Councils, Friday October 13 is the most likely date on which the million workers represented by the federatian will be called upon to act. The American Embassy is showing signs of growing concern about the dispute. Last week an American industrial attache at the embassy phoned Mr, Newbold for confirmation of the trade union view of the dispute. Mr. Newbold said, "I explained our trade union methods, our way of life, and gave him a few home truths about trade wmion custom and practige, In particular, I left him in no doubt that the action of this American company has infuriated trade unionists." Robert Pomeranz, Roberts Arundel's American boss has already been attacked by trade unionists for his refusal to see Ray Gunther until September 50. Last Monday he issued a statement which is bound to create even more anger and solidarity among workers in the North-West, He said: "The Amalgamated Engineering Union is more concerned with organising riots than in discussing a reasonable settlement." If this is the attitude he adopts when he visits this country later this month then it can be fairly predicted that the one-day strike on October 13 will attract far greater support than the | 500,000 predicted at present, Militant Action at Vauxhall's Vauxhall Motors' 25,000 manual workers are working to rule and have banned all overtime from this morning. Workers in the A,E.U. and the National Union of Vehicle Builders are united in their opposition to the new productivity and pay scheme recently announced by the management without prior negotiations. . They have been offered from 7d an hour more for labourers to 10d for top skilled men plus an extra 2d an hour if the men agreed to their profit-sharing being consolidated into the increase, The company also wanted improved productivity on nine points and a new pay grading structure - which they laid down. Wages at Vauxhalls are well below those at other car manufacturing firms in the Midlands and the men say that the rises proposed should be paid now. Any increased productivity should result in further increases later. They find themselves in the all too familiar position of being urged to run ever faster in order to stay in the same position. There is no intention of taking strike action at present but the company has warned that it might find it necessary to close down the three plants at Luton, Ellesmere Port and Dunstable if the men do not return to normal working. This threat is unlikely to prevent the Vauxhall workers from fighting for rates equal to those of other workers in the motor industry. Jim Watts, N.U.V.B. district secretary, described the management's warning as "a wild threat". He said,"We are ready to talk as soon as the management are ready. If this is their final offer it is unacceptable and this is the reason why negotiations are not continuing."