Available online
Description
In this programme the closure of a large engineering plant owned by Vickers in Leeds is examined in the light of attempts made by employees to save their work place. Specifically the programme foll...ows attempts made by the Senior Shop Steward, Terry Jaques, to pursue a number of different channels open to him to reverse the closure decision. Terry Jaques is a man with considerable experience in negotiations from the shop floor point of view. He has firm ideas about the need for change in society to allow working people more control over their destiny, but in general believes that all change should occur naturally without the need for militancy. Abiding by his beliefs, Terry Jaques approaches a number of different bodies for help, including management, the Government, the local Department of Industry and his Union. Spokesmen from these bodies include, Lord Robens, Chairman of Vickers and the Rt.Hon. Merlyn Rees MP. Criticism of the approach adopted by Terry to save the plant comes from the Vickers Combine, an unofficial body of Vickers Shop Stewards. They call for a stronger line with the adoption of militant tactics. At the end of the programme, Terry Jaques reviews his strategy in the knowledge that the decision to close the plant has not been reversed, and redundancy is already underway.
In this programme the closure of a large engineering plant owned by Vickers in Leeds is examined in the light of attempts made by employees to save their work place. Specifically the programme foll...ows attempts made by the Senior Shop Steward, Terry Jaques, to pursue a number of different channels open to him to reverse the closure decision. Terry Jaques is a man with considerable experience in negotiations from the shop floor point of view. He has firm ideas about the need for change in society to allow working people more control over their destiny, but in general believes that all change should occur naturally without the need for militancy. Abiding by his beliefs, Terry Jaques approaches a number of different bodies for help, including management, the Government, the local Department of Industry and his Union. Spokesmen from these bodies include, Lord Robens, Chairman of Vickers and the Rt.Hon. Merlyn Rees MP. Criticism of the approach adopted by Terry to save the plant comes from the Vickers Combine, an unofficial body of Vickers Shop Stewards. They call for a stronger line with the adoption of militant tactics. At the end of the programme, Terry Jaques reviews his strategy in the knowledge that the decision to close the plant has not been reversed, and redundancy is already underway.
| Module code and title: | D302, Patterns of inequality |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D302; 16 |
| First transmission date: | 12-10-1976 |
| Published: | 1976 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:24 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Roger Penfound |
| Contributors: | Terry Jaques; Merlyn Rees; Alfred Robens; Ben Turok; Colin Hampshire; Peter Fawcett; John McEnery |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Industrial relations; Inequality; Politics; Redundancy; Shop stewards |
| Footage description: | Opening shots of Leeds. The situation at Crabtree/Vickers is outlined. Jaques explains his initial position. Jaques describes how the workforce eventually found out about the management's plans. Robens comments on this and on the union's ideas for diversification. Jaques describes the workforce's next move. Shots of Jaques and Rees addressing a protest meeting. Rees explains what role the government can play. The negative government reaction is given at a shop stewards' meeting. The attitude of local ABU officials is outlined. Hampshire explains how they can help. Fawcett criticises the officials' approach and outlines what they should be doing. McEnery from the DoT looks at the growth of the service industry in the Leeds area. A meeting of the Vickers Combine of shop stewards discusses future policies. Various contributors comment on whether a more militant shop floor attitude would have achieved anything. Jaques describes the change in his thinking. Credits. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71986 |
| Production number: | 00525_2291 |
| Videofinder number: | 198 |
| Available to public: | no |
