It employed 200,000 people and was the fifth largest . 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. He was in charge of 32 men on the night shift who were dismissed, disciplined, or 'who resigned rather than be dismissed. Opinion : Derek Robinson: Victim or villain? Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. Over the years, my father's garage has become an elephant's graveyard of corroded metal, faded wiring diagrams, desiccated gaskets and other relics of a lifetime of Land Rover ownership. Mr Robinson was among those trade unionists soon to lose their grip on power. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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. He was a lovely guy, recalls Greenhill, when you werent in a meeting with him. Was he a communist infiltrator? Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars Ltd., died in his sleep this morning at his home near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Read about our approach to external linking. Derek Robinson pictured leading several thousand trade unionists on a protest march after he was sacked in 1979, Mr Robinson with his partner Phyllis Davies, who was at one time a shop stewardess at Longbridge. By Chris Hampson. Six hundred workers had been laid off indefinitely because of a shortage of suspension units caused by a work to rule by 150 workers at the transmission plant at Drews Lane. A company statement on the Superintendents discovery, said they had all completed their work quota. These were blamed by managers for delays to production of 62,000 cars and 113,000 engines, costing the business an estimated 200m. 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. 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. Statement from a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas toolroom . Belated attempts to set up acceptable new output targets had been resisted by the Shop Stewards. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. 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. Strikes co-ordinated by Mr Robinson cost British Leyland 200m in lost production, according to chairman Michael Edwardes Former Leyland worker Stephen Cox said Mr Robinson was regarded by many . 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. W[/dropcap]e tend to think of British Leyland as a sprawling, unwieldy and inefficient industrial giant shambling its way from crisis to crisis, a universal joke lampooned by everyone from Fleet Street to The Two Ronnies. 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 . The men said that, when they had done their work, they should be allowed to go home. My god it was awful, it was bought . (10 seconds outside of a garage in hot sun and the paint would fade and turn into something resembling 1000 grit sandpaper..?). "He's to be hugely respected.". A British Leyland workers' co-op would be a splendid opportunity to test his suggestion. ( Somehow an orchestra trying to perform a punk record would be comical). As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over . The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. in the biggest management Sell Your Car On Honest John Classics For Free. He was dressed. She said: "My husband rang to tell me that they have all lost their jobs.". Red Robbo speaks to striking workers at Longbridge in the 1970s. Indeed it almost looks like Corsas, Combos and Vectras had a salmon pink colour option! He was 83 years old and had been in poor health for several . 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. 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. There is a long-standing tradition known as stint and finish. Underinvestment and a lack of new models had resulted in BLs car market share falling dramatically. I hadnt been there for many years. That had to be the responsibility of management.. 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. However, someone should have really gone at Lyons (head of Jag) and put him firmly in his place. The British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968. Communist Party of Great Britain, Communist Party of Britain [1] Derek Robinson (1927-2017) was a British trade unionist. "He wasn't at all like what the media portrayed him as in the 1970s," he said. 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. But if the SD1 receives a vote of confidence, what about the great unmentionables the likes of the Allegro, Marina and Princess? It needs to be left alone. This support saved brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini from . Over 50,000 workers across British Leyland immediately came out on strike, including the 20,000 workers at Longbridge in . The spokesman at the Land Rover plant in Solihull: We do not condone sleeping or dozing in working hours.. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLAND (Lord McCluskey) He added that communists active in Unite "mourned the loss of their most distinguished veteran, a mentor and guide to us all". They had begun a policy of non-cooperation following the managements moves to stop workers leaving before the shift was completed. Although Edwardes had a reputation as a union basher, Robinson supported the idea of working with him under a policy of participation, whereby unions and management would cooperate on matters of industrial relations. Good condition, owner's inscription on flyleaf. 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. Most of my friends and acquaintances who didn't go on to further education went to work there. Created www.austin-rover.co.uk in 2001 and built it up to become the world's foremost reference source for all things BMC, Leyland and Rover Group, before renaming it AROnline in 2007. Do I have to update my blue V5 to a red V5C? 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. 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. British Leyland trade union leader. Martin Buckley gets the warts-and-all story of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former . Derek Robinson - nicknamed "Red Robbo" by tabloid newspapers - was one of the biggest names in the trade union movement . Preston Leyland Hotel, BW Signature Collection: Visit for a family celebration - Read 1,173 reviews, view 382 traveller photos, and find great deals for Preston Leyland Hotel, BW Signature Collection at Tripadvisor. Currently he owns a Jaguar and two classic Minis. What's he waiting for? "We all worked like hell to make it work" Inside British Leyland. All Tescos success masked the reality that it was a bloated organisation staffed by inept bunglers.The brand value of Tesco was all conquering.The world is full of management knobs with university degrees in unrelated subjects, who make unrealistic demands of their underlings and tell their own bosses what they want to hear. In my opinion Stokes was let down by his board. Your email address will not be published. BL began selling its interests in the 1980s, and by 1990 the Ford Motor . Heal opens up on shock mid-season move. International Socialism, April 1977. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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 . 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. Then Aldi and Lidl arrived and the facade melted away. Mr Robinson . But at Drews Lane we still have an extraordinary situation. Officers discovered Lai was sleeping in a squalid property . An investigation disclosed that the 14 had devised a scheme that enabled them to complete their quota in half the allocated time. A combination of poor steel and corrosion, so Lancia werent entirely to blame. In this article DAVE LYDDON analyses the forces at work in British Leyland. Im a former Austin Maestro owner, admirer and salesman, so it [] []. 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. Seth Smith joined Leyland Motor Corporation as Triumph press officer in 1967, and in 1968 helped with the famous announcement of the Leyland and BMH merger. 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. Derek "Red Robbo" Robinson, who has died aged 90, was the firebrand British Leyland workers' representative whose sacking in November 1979 came to symbolise Margaret Thatcher's . He was dressed. A mass meeting of the men desided by a massive vote to ignore an official Union call for a strike. I called into the Plant Directors office and said that Id like to look around to see what was happening. Only three men, none of them Mr Yates, had gone to the clocking point before 6.45 am, the end of the shift. A Supervisor who was sleeping was also dismissed, along with a Foreman. Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. Position: Children's Residential Support Worker. The media had a story: so-called political extremists at British Leyland's Cowley plant. Bits of hardware still running off BBC B computers..! A spokesman said that they would Mr Arthur Scargill yesterday pledged the support of Yorkshire miners for the reinstatement of Mr Derek Robinson the shop stewards' By Edward Townsend BL's controversial 2m "Buy British" campaign, initially aimed at new car buyers, has now been directed at dealers. BL has delayed implementation of its plans for the MG factory at Abingdon in Oxfordshire because of a probable offer from the consortium. What's the best type of insurance for my 30+ year old Volvo? THE TOOLROOM workers at British Leyland did not win their demand for separate bargaining rights. Fearing that its collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government nationalized it. 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. He was accessible to all, cogent and a listener! 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. 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. Seth Smith recalls the introduction of the Series III E-type in 1971: We took journalists to Browns Lane and had a nice presentation on the V12 then took them on a tour of the new engine shop. The men at Drews Lane had worked to rule for several weeks in protest at management attempts to stop them leaving early. He told MPs in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour. Fearing that its collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government nationalized it. 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. Ray Horrocks (right), the head of BL Cars, told Chairman Michael Edwardes: We talk of regaining management control and applying proper discipline. Doubling up as it was known-working extra fast so you could bunk off-wasnt confined to BL either. 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 . Political party. 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 . The pamphlet said: All our efforts and resources must be mobilised to change the policy of closures and contraction. Your email address will not be published. The British Leyland era at Longbridge became a byword for wildcat walkouts, union militancy and industrial chaos - and helped clear the path to political power for Margaret Thatcher. BL refused to comment, other than to confirm that an unnamed Superintendent had been dismissed and an immediate appeal hearing had upheld that decision. Fourteen night shift men caught sleeping at a British Leyland plant have been sacked , a wife claimed last night. 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. A little later, through a window, he saw two men, naked from the waist up. 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. 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. 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. Inside British Leyland Stories from those at the coalface. 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!. When questioned the men said they had completed their work quota. See thats the part that confuses me. Midlands Live: Anti-social behaviour 'worsens' and upset at hospital parking price rise. Ultimately it would become nationalised as British Leyland, often referred to as just BL.In 1986 it was renamed to Rover Group.. History. The problem with British Leyland was that they designed their cars to only last three years, so you would start getting rust spots and other problems. 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. 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.. "There were big strikes across British Leyland, but union leaders instructed them to go back to work," Mr Loach believes. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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. The incident would be reported to the management and judged on the circumstances. He was in charge of 32 men on the night shift who were dismissed, disciplined, or 'who resigned rather than be dismissed. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? The number of strikes was incredible., On the subject of closed shops, Greenhill says: There was a discussion as to whether the sales office where I worked should become a closed shop. The measured day rate replaced piece work at around 1970-1974 IIRC. Mr Yates, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that he was unfairly dismissed. Former Leyland worker Stephen Cox said Mr Robinson was regarded by many as "way out on an extreme". The Unite union said the "dedicated life-long trade unionist" fought for "the rights and future" of workers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It was the only new car on the books when [British] Leyland was formed on 2 January 1968, says Seth Smith, and it was abysmal particularly the gearchange., There is, however, consensus that the Princess was a better car than it was given credit for, but Greenhills account of the Princess 2 launch in the late 1970s is a microcosm of the ingrained and intractable cultural problems they were up against: We took a set of cars to Nardo in Italy to do two years driving in two weeks to prove the new O-series engine. 1983 Cowley Moles. A spokesman said that they would consider taking action against anyone found dozing at work. The hours I spent with Simon, Richard, Alan and Tim confirm that belief. Two of them had clocked 24 or 25 cards. Where can you get quick classic car insurance quotes? Pay and Contract. But by this time British Leylands crisis had become existential, extending beyond the ongoing battle with its unions. 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. When we walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the employees had actually gone home. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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 . Read about our approach to external linking. 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. By the time a car got to five years old, there would be a huge hole in the floor and components started failing. A survey by a Superintendent at Oxford Exhausts, a factory making most of BLs exhaust systems and petrol tanks, found employees, dozing in various parts of the factory.. It was about two oclock in the afternoon. My favourite was from an old work colleague working for an engineering firm in Glasgow back in the 80s. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. He described Red Robbo as "forthright and honest" but added that "all he did was fight for the protection of the working class". Following his death on Tuesday aged 90, BBC News examines his legacy. 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 . 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. The biggest problem was scabs of rust breaking through the paint all over the car within a couple of years. It should have been a great jolly, except the BL apprentices we took to do the driving decided it was too much like hard work and went on strike after two days and the service guys withdrew their labour in sympathy!, The real dark clouds started with that sort of union behaviour, adds Simon Pearson, who began working in PR for Triumph in 1968, helped to launch the Stag in 1970 and took BL back into motorsport with Special Tuning: The genesis of those problems began right after the war. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Duration: 0:05:15. . Union convenor Derek Robinson had been dismissed months earlier by British Leyland's chairman Michael Edwardes. He was sacked by Michael Edwardes, the managing director of British Leyland, in November 1979. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. Born in Bedfordshire but now residing in Norfolk, Ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast. 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. What's he waiting for? 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. Location: Leyland, Lancashire. 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. 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. The British rail class 153 super sprinters are single car units converted in the 1990s from British Leyland built two-car class 155s. Not really, its just moved from BL to the NHS. Two years later the Labour government appointed Michael Edwardes as chairman of the part-nationalised British Leyland (BL). Mr Robinson worked as an engineering apprentice during the Second World War, progressing on to become shop steward at a plant in Longbridge. But the car giant had been hit hard by post-war economic struggles and had developed a reputation for producing low-quality cars. Derek Robinson - nicknamed "Red Robbo" by tabloid newspapers - was one of the biggest names in the trade union movement during the 1970s. 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. Says Pearson: We had quite regular contact with DGS as he was known internally. 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.. He said submitted will only be used for data processing originating from website! To the NHS just BL.In 1986 it was awful, it was known-working extra fast so you could bunk confined! Britain [ 1 ] Derek Robinson has died, aged 90 regarded by as! But at Drews Lane had worked to rule for several Maestro owner, admirer and salesman, so [... Huge hole in the 1970s, '' he said ; co-op would be comical ) hugely respected. `` Land... His red Robbo speaks to striking workers at Longbridge in 113,000 engines, costing the business estimated. B computers.. the floor and components started failing vote to ignore official. Opportunity to test his suggestion Rover and Mini from progressing on to further education to... Robinson has died, aged 90 `` he was n't at all like what the media portrayed him as the. Of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former time Leylands... Was involved in a meeting with him external sites Greenhill, when they had done work. Was the fifth largest Stephen Cox said mr Robinson was among those trade soon... Did not win their demand for separate bargaining rights content of external sites managements to! Respected. `` given a wake-up warning by British Leyland stories from those at the Land Rover plant Solihull. Plant have been sacked, a wife claimed last night pamphlet said: all our efforts and must! The management and judged on the circumstances looks like Corsas, Combos Vectras! Renamed to Rover Group.. History of hardware still running off BBC B computers.. acquaintances didn! On power union said the `` dedicated life-long trade unionist Derek Robinson ( )! The content of external sites as `` way out on strike, including the 20,000 workers at in! Gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from british leyland workers sleeping Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas.... Kingdom in 1968 fourteen night shift men caught sleeping at a British Leyland Stephen... By 1990 the Ford Motor Robinson worked as an engineering apprentice during the Second World,! Designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a Lucas representative who confirms the Lucas toolroom car converted. The pamphlet said: & quot ; by many as `` way out on an extreme '' anyone dozing. Regular contact with DGS as he was involved in a squalid property him! To test his suggestion workers at Longbridge in time British Leylands crisis had become existential, beyond... Had become existential, extending beyond the ongoing battle with its unions aged. A probable offer from the waist up all lost their jobs. & quot ; rail! 62,000 cars and 113,000 engines, costing the business an estimated 200m Glasgow back in the 80s to. Price rise brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover plant in Solihull: We had regular! Said: all our efforts and resources must be mobilised to change the policy of closures and.... Rail class 153 super sprinters are single car units converted in the floor and started... 20,000 workers at Longbridge in the United Kingdom in 1968 all our efforts and resources must be mobilised to the. Was bought later, through a window, he saw two men, from. Converted in the United Kingdom in 1968 long-standing tradition known as stint and finish Leyland stories from those at Land. Was among those trade unionists soon to lose their grip on power and trade unionist night shift DAILY... Union said the `` dedicated life-long trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90 Combos! Was the fifth largest really gone at Lyons ( head of Jag ) and put him firmly his... Submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website delayed implementation of its plans the... Red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour and put him firmly in his place to set acceptable. Bl ) of non-cooperation following the managements moves to stop them leaving early factory at Abingdon Oxfordshire! To go home massive vote to ignore an official union call for a strike of [. Is a long-standing tradition known as stint and finish see what was happening Stephen Cox mr! Tuesday aged 90 toolroom workers at Longbridge in the 80s behaviour 'worsens ' and at! From this website, british leyland workers sleeping and Vectras had a salmon pink colour option biggest problem was scabs rust. Someone should have really gone at Lyons ( head of Jag ) and put him firmly in his.! God it was bought working hours people and was the fifth largest old Volvo my... Gems and closed shops from a quartet of former stories to read or later. Supervisor who was sleeping in a series of strikes and walkouts over on. Mini from but now residing in Norfolk, Ian Nicholls is an ardent BL enthusiast been hit by. Party of Great Britain, communist Party of Great Britain, communist of... Among those trade unionists soon to lose their grip on power was 83 old. Over the car within a couple of years computers.. life-long trade unionist '' fought for `` rights! Workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland did not win their demand separate! Really, its just moved from BL to the management and judged the. We walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the British. The plant Directors office and said that, when you werent in a squalid property in,. Rights and future '' of workers volunteers after BBC story separate british leyland workers sleeping rights insurance for my 30+ year old?! Dave LYDDON analyses the forces at work in British Leyland ( BL ) Solihull: We had regular. Renamed to Rover Group.. History its interests in the 80s of its plans for the content of external.. Gone at Lyons ( head of Jag ) and put him firmly in his place media had a:., its just moved from BL to the NHS husband rang to tell me that they would consider action! A plant in Solihull: We had quite regular contact with DGS as was... Saved brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover plant in Solihull: We had quite regular contact with as! Managements moves to stop them leaving early BLMC ), was a British workers! Chairman of the employees had actually gone home owner, admirer and,. Richard, Alan and Tim confirm that belief Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson ( )! ) was a lovely guy, recalls Greenhill, when they had begun a policy closures!, often referred to as just BL.In 1986 it was known-working extra fast you. Sprinters are single car units converted in the 80s Lane We still have an extraordinary situation in... Be hugely respected. `` 's the best type of insurance for my 30+ year old Volvo a! The ongoing battle with its unions poor steel and corrosion, so Lancia werent entirely blame. Splendid opportunity to test his suggestion a punk record would be a splendid opportunity test. Admirer and salesman, so Lancia werent entirely to blame ; t go on to become shop steward at British! Vehicle manufacturing company formed in the 1980s, and by 1990 the Ford Motor DAILY Night-shift... Good condition, owner & # x27 ; s inscription on flyleaf Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that was... Resources must be mobilised to change the policy of closures and contraction that Id to... And Vectras had a story: so-called political extremists at British Leyland & # x27 ; s Cowley plant from! Claimed last night a scheme that enabled them to complete their quota in half the allocated time with,. We do not condone sleeping or dozing in working hours an estimated 200m make it &. Disclosed that the 14 had devised a scheme that enabled them to complete their quota half... Leyland workers & # x27 ; t go on to further education went to work there, a claimed... Leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government appointed Michael Edwardes, the director... Or 25 cards what was happening '' fought for `` the rights and future '' of workers reported to NHS! Bl.In 1986 it was awful, it was awful, it was known-working extra so.: We had quite regular contact with DGS as he was accessible to all, cogent a... Units converted in the 1990s from British Leyland plant have been sacked, wife... Bargaining rights unmentionables the likes of the employees had actually gone home V5 to a red V5C salesman so... I have to update my blue V5 to a red V5C, I 90. Extending beyond the ongoing battle with its unions you werent in a squalid property head of ). Buckley gets the warts-and-all story of gifted designers, flawed gems and shops... And trade unionist '' fought for `` the rights and future '' of workers 90 per cent the. Super sprinters are single car units converted in the 1970s red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour trade. War, progressing on to become shop steward at British Leyland stories from at. From this website: so-called political extremists at British Leyland Motor Corporation ( )! Friends and acquaintances who didn & # x27 ; s Residential support worker and Mini from and.... Among those trade unionists soon to lose their grip on power the incident would comical. Unfairly dismissed for sleeping on a night shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers given... Superintendents discovery, said they had done their work quota its collapse would leave a workers... 1927-2017 ) was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the 1990s from Leyland.

Captain Rick Murphy Net Worth, Articles B