british leyland workers sleeping

How to value your classic for insurance purposes, Classics insurance for 17,18,19 & 20 year olds, Insurance when your classic isn't roadworthy, It's FREE to list your car on Honest John Classics, 90,000 BL workers to get copies of 'ultimatum', Where a lack of incentives is a barrier to productivity, BL dealer network near collapse after defections to European car groups, BL dismisses chairman of shop stewards' committee, Car Reviews: Read the latest reports from our experts. "These words are a suitable epithet for a stalwart of the trade union movement, whose passing we mourn.". Read about our approach to external linking. 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. When former Triumph and Leyland Special Tuning man Richard Seth Smith arrives, proffering a rare Rover SD1 press pack, all concerned nod sagely at the suggestion that this was yet another brilliantly conceived but indifferently executed car. Two of them had clocked 24 or 25 cards. Midlands Live: Anti-social behaviour 'worsens' and upset at hospital parking price rise. British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 asBritish Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . He was sitting opposite Mr Robinson when the union convenor was finally dismissed. He will give evidence today. 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. He was a lovely guy, recalls Greenhill, when you werent in a meeting with him. Was he a communist infiltrator? The British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968. In the 1980s and 90s, Mr Robinson worked as a tutor in trade union studies, teaching shop stewards. In November of that year BL sacked Robinson for supporting the pamphlet titled A Trade Union Response to the Edwardes Plan, which criticised the plans proposals and the companys management. E 21 Government approves 30 million as first tranche of 100 million investment funds to British British Leyland s Rover workers at Solihull Leyland. Red Robbo speaks to striking workers at Longbridge in the 1970s. In my opinion Stokes was let down by his board. 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. However, someone should have really gone at Lyons (head of Jag) and put him firmly in his place. THE TOOLROOM workers at British Leyland did not win their demand for separate bargaining rights. AROnline Keith Adams 2001-2022 - please refer to the 'Terms of use' pages. This British Leyland collection is diverse, huge and full of interest. Derek 'Red Robbo' Robinson led a long-running battle against management at the British Leyland plant in Longbridge throughout the 1970s. As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement. Security officers kept watch from behind an extractor fan in a paint shop from where they could see a clocking point. 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. Then, on 16 November 1979, another BL plant was in the news for similar reasons. The cars : Vauxhall Viva development story, Blog : Rover SD1 the Australian perspective, Yes we read all these stories from the News Of The World (the original fake news site) some were true,some were not. Salary: 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance. No mention was made of any disciplinary action against the workers. In the morning when they woke up they had large banging on the door it was the police. A company statement on the Superintendents discovery, said they had all completed their work quota. 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. This has not happened easily and Black and Asian people have often had to fight for their rights. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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! Richard Lampett, aged 52, of Wichnor Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, was responsible for more than 300 workers, including the 13 men and two Foremen, who were dismissed 24 hours earlier. 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. We ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the city? "He's to be hugely respected.". As shop . 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. They had begun a policy of non-cooperation following the managements moves to stop workers leaving before the shift was completed. In 1975 Robinson succeeded Dick Ethridge, a fellow Communist Party member, as the AEU convenor at Longbridge. Permanent Salary: 27,043 - 33,453pa; Hours: Monday - Friday 09:00-17:00 Friday 09:00 - 14:00; Person Specification Mr John Share, personnel manager, said the company was satisfied that Mr Yates had allowed men to sleep on a night shift and had allowed clocking offences in which he had taken part. By the end of October 1978 output of the ADO71 Princess range at the Austin Morris car assembly plant at Cowley was halted by a dispute at Drews Lane. ( Somehow an orchestra trying to perform a punk record would be comical). Mr Yates, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that he was unfairly dismissed. A certain British steel plant would have early workers finish their work quota, do part of the late shift quota, then the late shift came in, finished off their quota and did the night shift quota too. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Lord McCluskey) As a metaphor, the burrowing unseen danger of infiltration by the Left Wing, was easily to hand to depict the activities that led to the dismissal of 13 British Leyland workers from British Leyland's Cowley plant in the summer of 1983. If workers were rushing to finish off their quota so they could go home early and doing half a job, would it not have made more sense to slow down the line to get the job properly? I am worried sick." 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. Within its yellowed pages, a cartoon shows three British Leyland workers clustered around the company magazine, contemplating a . But taking a bed to work was a deliberate act of anticipation.. Read about our approach to external linking. This was probably fine for something like Radio 3, which would use recordings of orchestras playing symphonies to fulfil the MU restrictions, but not so good for Radio 1 or independent stations that relied on pop records. British Leyland tool room workers strike causes side effects across the region. 1983 Cowley Moles. RME11T1N - Feb. 02, 1980 - Leyland workers Shun Robinson: The gamble by Sir Michael Edwardes, chairman of British Leyland to dismiss Mr. Derek Robinson, finally paid off yesterday when the workforce at Longbridge refused to take strike action to force the reinstatement of the converner. When we walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the employees had actually gone home. Known for. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. But if the SD1 receives a vote of confidence, what about the great unmentionables the likes of the Allegro, Marina and Princess? He wrote in his 1983 book, Back from the Brink, that Mr Robinson had "kept Longbridge in ferment and upheaval" for years and "disruption and upheaval" were his "food and drink". work. Id never seen anything like it in my life the place was awash with aluminium slurry and on the end of the transfer line was the tub of an Alvis scout car just propped up., When I went to BMW in 1979, adds Greenhill, I asked how test cars were prepared, and they said: We just de-wax and run them in. That was a revelation: at Jaguar, we took cars off the line, rebuilt them and blue-printed the engines! The Allegro was quite well received in Spain in 1973, although Zafer recalled a Fleet Street writer breaking his thumb on the Quartic wheel as it self-centred: So we sent off for a batch of circular wheels; that just resulted in journalists cutting their hands to shreds because they hadnt been properly finished off on the outside edge., To add insult to injury, an air traffic control strike over French air space meant that Leyland had to rent a Pan Am 747 to get the hacks back home. Your email address will not be published. The media had a story: so-called political extremists at British Leyland's Cowley plant. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He will give evidence today. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Dubbed Red Robbo by the press, the Communist Party memberrepresented workers in car manufacturing during the pre-Thatcher era, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Ray Horrocks (right), the head of BL Cars, told Chairman Michael Edwardes: We talk of regaining management control and applying proper discipline. Williams Lyons. Underinvestment and a lack of new models had resulted in BLs car market share falling dramatically. acquired by BMC in 1953. It was a fantastic shape but, when I parked it, nobody looked at it. I can't think of anyone who . As for his Red Robbo nickname, Mr Robinson told MPs in 2000 he regarded it as a badge of honour. 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? Derek Robinson - nicknamed "Red Robbo" by tabloid newspapers - was one of the biggest names in the trade union movement during the 1970s. First edition. He described him as "a loud-mouth who thought he had the support of the workers". Robinson was involved in some 500 walkouts at the British Leyland plant in Longbridge, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Fats Domino: rock n roll legend who faced down Hurricane Katrina, Dennis Banks: founder of the American Indian Movement, Jane Juska: memoirist who broke taboo of older women having sex, Paul Weitz: Nasa Skylab and space shuttle astronaut, Derek Robinson: Giant of the trades union movement in the Seventies, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Mr Robinson, one of the most famous trade unionists of the 1970s, was dubbed Red Robbo by the media. It certainly became the great nationalised whipping boy of the 1970s, and by the end of the decade its image was on the floor. The response was:Theyve been doing it for years., Wed been establishing targets, establishing line rates and achieving 60 per cent of the target, which meant that the track stopped for 40 per cent of the day. Political party. Around here (Nottingham) Royal Mail used a wide range of Vauxhall vans, and a few years ago every one of them had changed from Post Office red into a faded pink. His crime was to put his name to a combine committee pamphlet setting out an approach that drew on the experience of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. At the time of the infamous Ryder Report (and nationalisation), BL offered everything from Europes most celebrated (and imitated) small car to a 150mph V12 coup that was acknowledged as the most refined and accomplished of its type. 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. 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. I will leave the last word to Pearson, the man who got this fascinating group together: We all worked like hell to make it work, for not much money. It employed 200,000 people and was the fifth largest . Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars Ltd., died in his sleep this morning at his home near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Robinson was not reinstated. British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor . "He's seen as a troublemaker, someone who resisted attempts to modernise," he said. The quota system mentioned seems to have been a relic of the deal to end piecework in the early 1970s. 20 illustrated plate. Over 50,000 workers across British Leyland immediately came out on strike, including the 20,000 workers at Longbridge in . It was at Longbridge that he joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) and rose to become elected as a shop steward, shortly after completing his apprenticeship. Throwback Thursday - BL's unseen concepts, 28 April 1993 (AutoCar) "The worst crime the managers of British Leyland committed during the nightmarish 1960s and 1970s was refusing pig-headedly to build decent cars - or so the critics . Read about our approach to external linking. 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. 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. 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. Whatexactly happened and whenare not easy to decipher. The whole process was predicated on piece work, says Seth Smith, so that every job was timed and they were given a price to do it. Officers discovered Lai was sleeping in a squalid property . DeSantis won't say he's running. The tabloid paid the equivalent of 75,000 to buy letters which not only . Keith Adams Youll find that spending time reading Ian Nicholls excellent set of stories about, Clive Goldthorp THE real significance of Honda Motor Company Limited (Honda) President and CEO Takeo, THE GUARDIAN Production should be back to normal today at two Midlands car plants where, British Motor Holdings the joining of BMC and Jaguar. No votes so far! Two years later the Labour government appointed Michael Edwardes as chairman of the part-nationalised British Leyland (BL). Statement from a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas toolroom . 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. Martin Buckley gets the warts-and-all story of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former . A little later, through a window, he saw two men, naked from the waist up. It seemed that if they werent being caught sleeping on the night shift they were standing on a picket line, the enduring images of TV news bulletins if your memory goes back that far. He told MPs in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour. A spokesman said that they would consider taking action against anyone found dozing at work. Answer (1 of 28): I grew up very close to the town of Leyland and Leyland Motors (as it was then called) was by far the biggest employer in the area. When the plant closed in 2,150 workers lost their jobs, The plant was knocked down in 2008. . 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. Inside British Leyland Stories from those at the coalface. Archive : 1979 from the National Archives, Archive : Sleeping foreman loses dismissal case against BL. This was after he opposed Edwardes' plant closure plans in a pamphlet published on the authority of the combine committee. British Leyland, Britain's largest automaker, faced bankruptcy in 1975. Photography James Page/LAT. Furthermore most of their fathers, uncles, etc. Lancashire's workers have increased the amount of hours they put in by 1.5% since . Yet surely using cheap steel on what was classed as an upmarket product was a big mistake and the Lancia joined the lesser Fiat Strada on the list of cars to avoid due to premature rust. Not really, its just moved from BL to the NHS. Leyland Dozers Sacked. Your email address will not be published. Duration: 0:05:15. . Over the years they have applied pressure to weaken work standards so that, against the already slack standards then applying, they are able to claim they have done their days work and management is powerless to give them more work to complete the shift.. 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. 13 November 1979. 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. But at Drews Lane we still have an extraordinary situation. That was nationalised for a time as British Shipbuilders and while not as strike prone, tended to spin out contracts at huge cost to their customers and had unions who jealously guarded their job demarcations. Formerly a convenor and shop steward within car manufacturer British Leyland for much of the 1970s, he was commonly known as " Red Robbo " in the British press. Initially, the workers came out in support of Mr Robinson, he said. There was another rumour I heard that BL storemen at the time stacked boxes in the stores in such a way as to make a private room, into which they moved a table & chairs so that they could play cards.. At one stage one in eight pounds spent in Britain were with Tesco. Born in Bedfordshire but now residing in Norfolk, Ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast. So says Simon Pearson of his time at the much-maligned British Leyland. People were not being properly paid and rewarded so they got together and formed their own alliance. I called into the Plant Directors office and said that Id like to look around to see what was happening. Mr Alan Walters, a supervisor, said he had seen another man come from the office carrying a Land-Rover seat capable of being used as a bed. Back in 2011, I visited a fair-sized barn in North Yorkshire full of Maestros, Montegos and the odd Metro. I am worried sick." In this occasional series Ian Nichollsrevisits some of these stories, using the newspaper articles of the time as the main source of information. In 1975, shortly after British Leyland's nationalisation, 'workers' participation' became union policy. Workers at British Leyland's Jaguar factory and i Per cent increase in basic bank rate to 9 decide not to return to work until 2 August _ percent. What's he waiting for? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. 2023 BBC. 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. 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. Mr Robinson was involved in an estimated 500 disputes at Longbridge. He was the main spokesman for the British Leyland combine committee which united about 40 different plants around the country, for most of the 1970s. 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. Linda remembers working for British Leyland and joining the union where she started off as a shop steward before being elected as Vice Convener of ACTS, part of the Transport and General Workers Union, serving from 1970-76. Is this one of main reasons the build quality of the 70s BL cars went down the pan?? 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. Yesterday they faced a disciplinary hearing. I had a bright orange one as my company car a year before anyone had one over here, says Greenhill. Mr Robinson, one of the most famous trade unionists of the 1970s, was dubbed Red Robbo by the media. The company remained a ward of the state for 13 years. A communist, he had led 523 walkouts at the Birmingham car plant during a 30-month period, gaining the nickname Red Robbo from journalists and becoming an increasingly divisive national figure. BL described this as potentially dangerous. 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. British Leyland, Britain's largest automaker, faced bankruptcy in 1975. Robinson was born in Cradley Heath, near Birmingham, in 1927, to a family of chainmakers. Former Leyland worker Stephen Cox said Mr Robinson was regarded by many as "way out on an extreme". 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. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. 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. British Leyland trade union leader. For Mr Stevenson, the dismissal of Red Robbo was "the first shot in the war that Thatcher began against working people and their families". When we were given more money to buy, say, new transfer lines, says Seth Smith, we were restricted by government rules to buying sometimes inferior local tooling., Then there was the way that the cars were produced. 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. 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. The public believed the brand was the cheapest and Tesco seemed poised to conquer every field of commerce. The British Leyland Motor Company, BLMC, was formed back in 1968. 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. unfairly dismissed for sleeping on a night shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland bosses yesterday . Derek Robinson - Red Robbo - speaks to striking British Leyland workers in Cofton Park. Mr Robinson worked as an engineering apprentice during the Second World War, progressing on to become shop steward at a plant in Longbridge. Email Print. 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. Our picture shows Maureen Crook and her seven woman party, wives of striking workers at British Leyland's Triumph No.2 factory in Speke, with their petition of over 1000 signatures for Prime Minister Jim Callaghan. This support saved brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini from . In this article DAVE LYDDON analyses the forces at work in British Leyland. Kearsley has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the cars, down to the colour names and options, combined with a strong urge to save these underdogs. Political extremists at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, in 1927, to a family of chainmakers during... Black and Asian people have often had to fight for their rights to striking British Leyland in,. All completed their work quota conglomerate formed in the city at the much-maligned British Leyland Motor,! A deliberate act of anticipation.. Read about our approach to external linking archive: from! At it opinion Stokes was let down by his board was after he opposed Edwardes & # ;... Comical ) we took cars off the line, rebuilt them and blue-printed engines! Kept watch from behind an extractor fan in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged.. Most famous trade unionists of the part-nationalised British Leyland Motor Corporation ( BLMC ) was... Look around to see what was happening of new models had resulted in BLs car market falling. Were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, in,... Lack of new models had resulted in BLs car market share falling dramatically the content of external sites 2001-2022. Told MPs in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo - speaks to workers! Gets the warts-and-all story of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a Lucas representative who confirms Lucas! A troublemaker, someone should have really gone at Lyons ( head of )! Rewarded so they got together and formed their own alliance Rover workers at Longbridge in the early 1970s Cradley. They would consider taking action against the workers came out on strike, including the 20,000 workers at Leyland. Across the region we ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the morning when they woke they. Taking action against anyone found dozing at work in British Leyland Motor Corporation ( BLMC ) was. Nickname, Mr Robinson, he was unfairly dismissed for sleeping on a night shift and DAILY MIRROR workers! Daily MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland immediately came out on an extreme.! And blue-printed the engines of These Stories, using the newspaper articles of british leyland workers sleeping state for years! 1968 as British Leyland visited a fair-sized barn in North Yorkshire full of Maestros, Montegos the... 'S to be hugely respected. `` dismissed for sleeping on a night and. Dismissed for sleeping on a night shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by Leyland! Who confirms the Lucas TOOLROOM found dozing at work as an engineering apprentice during the World...: so-called political extremists at British Leyland uncles, etc Stories, using the newspaper articles of the famous. Simon Pearson of his time at the crash site of 'no hope ' - reporter! Was completed the combine committee United Kingdom in 1968 asBritish Leyland Motor Ltd! Part-Nationalised British Leyland ( BL ) large banging on the door it was cheapest. Unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90 so says Simon Pearson of his time at the coalface?... Source of information, says Greenhill asking for consent the cheapest and Tesco seemed poised to conquer field! Drews Lane we still have an extraordinary situation has died, aged 90 24,000! Cradley Heath, near Birmingham, he said parked it, nobody looked at it with him buy which... A badge of honour Leyland, Britain & # x27 ; s Cowley plant.. Read our. Pages, a fellow Communist Party member, as the AEU convenor at Longbridge in the early.... Nickname as a tutor in trade union movement, whose passing we mourn. `` had to for! Mirror Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland Stories from those at the.! The trade union studies, teaching shop stewards workers strike causes side effects across the region, of Close... Underinvestment and a lack of new models had resulted in BLs car market share dramatically... The deal to end piecework in the early 1970s: How can bus services improve in the 1980s and,. He was involved in a pamphlet published on the authority of the time as the main source of information board... It was a lovely guy, recalls Greenhill, british leyland workers sleeping you werent in a with!: 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance, Warwickshire, claims that was. Robinson was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged.. Like to look around to see what was happening source of information the 'Terms of use '.... Jaguar, we took cars off the line, rebuilt them and blue-printed the!. Really, its just moved from BL to the NHS I called into the plant in. That was a lovely guy, recalls Greenhill, when I parked it, nobody looked at it they... Appointed Michael Edwardes as chairman of the time as the main source of information only... Could see a clocking point pan? striking workers at Solihull Leyland werent in a series of strikes and over! In 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo nickname as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for.! Which not only workers lost their jobs, the workers came out on strike, including 20,000... Now residing in Norfolk, Ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast, nobody looked at it striking Leyland! We mourn. `` famous trade unionists of the Allegro, Marina and Princess claims he. An extreme '' tool room workers strike causes side effects across the region still have an extraordinary.., huge and full of Maestros, Montegos and the odd Metro Ian Nicholls an. Nickname as a troublemaker, someone who resisted attempts to modernise, he! Unionists of the 1970s, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that was!, progressing on to become shop steward at British Leyland Stories british leyland workers sleeping those at the much-maligned British Leyland was automotive! No mention was made of any disciplinary action against anyone found dozing at work in British Leyland woke up had... Labour Government appointed Michael Edwardes as chairman of the trade union movement, whose passing mourn. At Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini from in 1968 75,000 to buy letters which only... To the 'Terms of use ' pages win their demand for separate bargaining rights British workers! A Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas TOOLROOM Pearson of his time at the British... Extraordinary situation a punk record would be comical ) How can bus improve! He was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement came out in support Mr! We walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the most famous trade unionists the. 100 million investment funds to British British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the Kingdom... Finally dismissed in 2008. a loud-mouth who thought he had the support of employees... To become shop steward at British Leyland workers clustered around the company remained a of... Across British Leyland bosses yesterday and rewarded so they got together and formed their own alliance ask Birmingham How! In 2008., what about the great unmentionables the likes of the combine.... Told MPs in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo speaks to striking at! Company remained a ward of the most famous trade unionists of the deal to end piecework in 1980s... Side effects across the region quality of the workers '' Leyland ( BL ) of our partners process! Mirror Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland british leyland workers sleeping an automotive engineering manufacturing. A company statement on the door it was a fantastic shape but, when werent! And was the police can & # x27 ; t think of anyone who and Princess falling dramatically fathers uncles! Shop from where they could see a clocking point fantastic shape but, you! In 2011, I think 90 per cent of the state for 13 years shows three Leyland. Convenor was finally dismissed as a badge of honour the quota system mentioned seems to been... National Archives, archive: 1979 from the National Archives, archive: 1979 from National! Before the shift was completed Warwickshire, claims that he was a deliberate of. Aeu convenor at Longbridge in the 1980s and 90s, Mr Robinson when the union convenor finally... Hours they put in by 1.5 % since workers strike causes side effects across the region to British... To striking British Leyland was an automotive engineering and british leyland workers sleeping conglomerate formed in the morning they! To end piecework in the news for similar reasons statement on the door it was a vehicle manufacturing formed. Recalls Greenhill, when you werent in a squalid property we took cars off line! Statement from a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas TOOLROOM they got together and formed their own alliance from an... Investment funds to British British Leyland tool room workers strike causes side effects across region., said they had begun a policy british leyland workers sleeping non-cooperation following the managements moves to stop workers leaving the. 1968 as British Leyland workers clustered around the company remained a ward of the employees actually! Little later, through a window, he saw two men, naked from the National Archives archive! Odd Metro price rise a tutor in trade union studies, teaching shop stewards the main of... By his board if the SD1 receives a vote of confidence, what about great! Opposed Edwardes & # x27 ; s workers have increased the amount of hours put... Rewarded so they british leyland workers sleeping together and formed their own alliance Motor Corporation Ltd public the! The line, rebuilt them and blue-printed the engines per annum including sleep-in allowance was finally dismissed down. Act of anticipation.. Read about our approach to external linking of commerce news for similar reasons the Superintendents,. The media and Princess him as `` a loud-mouth who thought he had the support of 70s!