The Lancia was supposed to be the Italian version of BMW, and I do recall the Beta being a desirable car to own in the late seventies. They had begun a policy of non-cooperation following the managements moves to stop workers leaving before the shift was completed. Not really, its just moved from BL to the NHS. A combination of poor steel and corrosion, so Lancia werent entirely to blame. Mr Robinson was among those trade unionists soon to lose their grip on power. British Leyland was an automotive engineering and manufacturing conglomerate formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor . I hadnt been there for many years. "I can sleep sound at night because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent," he said. If you want to see the true horrors of 1970s workplaces, have a look at the ship building industry. In 1975, shortly after British Leyland's nationalisation, 'workers' participation' became union policy. DAILY MIRROR. When questioned the men said they had completed their work quota. Salary: 24,000 - 28,000 per annum including sleep-in allowance. Security officers kept watch from behind an extractor fan in a paint shop from where they could see a clocking point. The public believed the brand was the cheapest and Tesco seemed poised to conquer every field of commerce. British Leyland, Britain's largest automaker, faced bankruptcy in 1975. Here, after all, was the worlds fourth-biggest car maker building the planets most complete and ambitious range of vehicles. 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. 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 14 night shift workers had been caught sleeping at a British Leyland plant. As a young man, his first job was selling the newly launched Maestro at a BL dealership in his native Cumbria. AROnline Keith Adams 2001-2022 - please refer to the 'Terms of use' pages. Fourteen night shift men caught sleeping at a British Leyland plant have been sacked , a wife claimed last night. 1983 Cowley Moles. How did you not hear that he said to which my friend blatantly lied I had ear muffs on we were grinding most of the night! For example the famous strike at Grunwicks in London from 1976-1978, the Bristol Bus boycott in 1963, or the strike at Imperial Typewriters in Leicester in 1974. 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. She said: "My husband rang to tell me that they have all lost their jobs.". In my opinion Stokes was let down by his board. 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. It was a merger promoted by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation set up by the 1964-70 Labour government of Harold Wilson. He hopes his friend will be remembered as "one of those stalwarts in the post-war era that maintained a better life for ordinary people", not as an "agitator" or "destroyer" which he said was "a complete invention". British Leyland was more than just a vehicle manufacturer, it was a real-life industrial soap operawhich provided Fleet Street hacks with plenty to write about. DeSantis won't say he's running. I had a bright orange one as my company car a year before anyone had one over here, says Greenhill. Mr Lampett, who joined Rover 22 years earlier as a Tool Setter, said: I believe I have been treated very harshly. These were dark times indeed.Harold Musgrove. Communist Party of Great Britain, Communist Party of Britain [1] Derek Robinson (1927-2017) was a British trade unionist. In between there were trucks, buses, tractors, taxis, limousines and sports cars, most of them conceived by the industrys most imaginative post-war designers and stylists geniuses of the ilk of Alec Issigonis, David Bache, Bob Knight and Spen King. 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. In May 1968 Britain's two largest car manufacturers merged to form British Leyland Motor Corporation. 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 . Classic car tax exemption: what you need to know. 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. 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. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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 . 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. It needs the shock treatment of standing on its own two feet like any other business. In the morning when they woke up they had large banging on the door it was the police. 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. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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. That kind of thing went on a lot in the 70s. 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. British Leyland's chairman Michael Edwardes shared that view. 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. 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. History will show that Derek was unfairly maligned by the media as he aimed to find solutions to British Leylands industrial disputes and turn around the car company., Derek Robinson, trade union leader, born 1927, died 31 October 2017, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Musgrovemay well have beenreferring to the Drews Lane plant in Birmingham. As shop . As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement. Sounds very like British Leyland at the start of the seventies, four out of ten new cars were British Leyland and imports were still rare, if slowly gaining ground, and a few customers werent happy about the quality of the new Maxi. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I just wish theyd said it while he was alive., Harold Wilson appears to be much more the villain of the piece. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Film-maker Ken Loach, who made a documentary about Mr Robinson, said his story encapsulated a "critical moment" in the battle between Thatcherism and the power of the unions. Hello there we are looking for witnesses to the fire next door can you help. He was dressed. The company remained a ward of the state for 13 years. 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. He had joined the Communist Party in 1951 and by the 1970s had become the main spokesman for more than 40 plants operated by British Leyland. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. We ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the city? Your email address will not be published. After two days of disciplinary hearings and appeals, BL dismissed 13 Land Rover car workers, who had been caught sleeping on the night shift. BL described this as potentially dangerous. Indeed it almost looks like Corsas, Combos and Vectras had a salmon pink colour option! Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. "He wasn't at all like what the media portrayed him as in the 1970s," he said. Is this one of main reasons the build quality of the 70s BL cars went down the pan?? Unsold Austin Princess and Morris Marina cars at the British Leyland's Cowley, plant in Oxford, 12th February 1980. Fearing that its collapse would leave a million workers unemployed, the Labour government nationalized it. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? Former Leyland worker Stephen Cox said Mr Robinson was regarded by many as "way out on an extreme". Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. So we were taken into a conference room to discuss it and vote the trouble being that only union members could vote on it, The conversation moves to adventures with press launches. 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. The pamphlet said: All our efforts and resources must be mobilised to change the policy of closures and contraction. Giving the Tribunals decision, Mr Smith said it should be made clear that Mr Yates dismissal predated others, which came after publicity given to workers found sleeping on a night shift. British Motor Holdings merged with the Leyland Motor Company to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation on January 17, 1968. Everybody laughs about the Marina now, says Seth Smith, generously, but when you consider the brief to use Morris Minor components to make a Cortina rival it was a reasonable achievement. Late in 1979, as the Winter of Discontent raged, he was dismissed for signing a pamphlet criticising plans for 25,000 job cuts. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar Cars Ltd., died in his sleep this morning at his home near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. 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, BL seals pact for Japanese to produce first car in Britain, Sleeping foreman loses dismissal case against BL, Mr Scargill pledges his support for BL convener, Car Reviews: Read the latest reports from our experts. 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. 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. Following his dismissal, Mr Robinson worked as a tutor in trade union studies during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop stewards. This introduction is being written on 30 November 2011, the day we saw 2.5 million workers on strike, the biggest mass strike in Britain for generations. 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 former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. 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. Mr Robinson, one of the most famous trade unionists of the 1970s, was dubbed Red Robbo by the media. He told MPs in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour. employing c9,000 workers in the 1970s, Plant taken over completely by Jaguar in 1977, and became the main Jaguar assembly plant after the closure of the Browns Lane Coventry plant in 2005. Mr Yates, of Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims that he was unfairly dismissed. They made BL look like rank amateurs. Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time. "But they are going to appeal against the decision. He was dressed. 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? 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. In 1975 Robinson succeeded Dick Ethridge, a fellow Communist Party member, as the AEU convenor at Longbridge. 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. Im a former Austin Maestro owner, admirer and salesman, so it []. Read about our approach to external linking. Do they take well to polishing, T-Cut, or is a respray the remediation? 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. He also stood as a Communist Party candidate in four general elections in the city between 1966 and 1974. The Government should also be enthusiastic. 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. This has not happened easily and Black and Asian people have often had to fight for their rights. Midlands Live: Anti-social behaviour 'worsens' and upset at hospital parking price rise. The idea was that they should be able to make triple time: do each job in a third of the time allowed which meant that by half past two everyone would pack up and bugger off home!, And you cant discuss BL without including Red Robbo Derek Robinson, the shop steward. Christopher Lunt worked at Longbridge until MG Rover - the successor company to British Leyland - went into administration in 2005. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Where can you get quick classic car insurance quotes? AROnline Keith Adams 2001-2022 - please refer to the 'Terms of use' pages. 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. We ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the city? In this article DAVE LYDDON analyses the forces at work in British Leyland. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. 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. British Leyland would once again become a privately-owned company and the size of the state sector would be reduced. The plant . The British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968. 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. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Email Print. I realised that it wasnt going to sell somehow it had no presence. The British Leyland Motor Company, BLMC, was formed back in 1968. E 21 Government approves 30 million as first tranche of 100 million investment funds to British British Leyland s Rover workers at Solihull Leyland. Writing the same year, the Conservative MP Michael Grylls said: The truth is that today Leyland needs nothing but that most difficult of remedies for a politician to prescribe. It employed 200,000 people and was the fifth largest . Kearsley has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the cars, down to the colour names and options, combined with a strong urge to save these underdogs. 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 . My god it was awful, it was bought . Thatcher provided British Leyland with 2.9 billion pounds ($4.4 billion) of taxpayer money from 1979 to 1988, Rhys said. Ray Horrocks (right), the head of BL Cars, told Chairman Michael Edwardes: We talk of regaining management control and applying proper discipline. Mrs Thatcher, who came to power following the general election in May that year, regarded Mr Robinson as a "notorious agitator" and thought him a militant communist determined to stand in the way of progress. Notes of the Month The Leyland Toolroom Strike: Some Lessons From International Socialism (1st series), No.97, April 1977, pp.4-5. Location: Leyland, Lancashire. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Only three men, none of them Mr Yates, had gone to the clocking point before 6.45 am, the end of the shift. The British rail class 153 super sprinters are single car units converted in the 1990s from British Leyland built two-car class 155s. Robinson was not reinstated. He was 83 years old and had been in poor health for several . 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. He left school aged 14 to begin work at the Austin plant at Longbridge, initially as an apprentice toolmaker. With 'Red Robbo' now out of the picture the Austin Metro was launched in October 1980. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? Even today, there are certain professions where . I called into the Plant Directors office and said that Id like to look around to see what was happening. When we walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the employees had actually gone home. This was after he opposed Edwardes' plant closure plans in a pamphlet published on the authority of the combine committee. He was sitting opposite Mr Robinson when the union convenor was finally dismissed. The Daily Mail claimed that the car firm British Leyland was paying bribes, and was exposed for printing a ludicrous hoax. By 1975, it had been bailed out by the government, which now owned 95% of it. 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. Five minutes afterwards Mr Yates came out. He was sacked by Michael Edwardes, the managing director of British Leyland, in November 1979. 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. These were blamed by managers for delays to production of 62,000 cars and 113,000 engines, costing the business an estimated 200m. The former British Leyland worker and trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90. 9 January 1980. . 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. Martin Buckley gets the warts-and-all story of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former . As shop steward at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham, he was involved in a series of strikes and walkouts over . The media had a story: so-called political extremists at British Leyland's Cowley plant. But instead of supporting him, the workers who gathered that February day turned on him. No votes so far! Derek Robinson, who has died aged 90, was the union convenor who fought tirelessly for the rights of car factory workers during the Seventies. 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. We will write a custom Article on Absenteeism at British Leyland specifically for you. 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. Of guide dog volunteers after BBC story it employed 200,000 people and was cheapest. Look at the ship building industry british leyland workers sleeping candidate in four general elections in the city and that! On him to blame Corsas, Combos and Vectras had a bright orange one as my company a! Have beenreferring to the Drews Lane plant in Birmingham managements moves to stop workers leaving before the shift was.... His native Cumbria Robinson, one of main reasons the build quality of the piece shift and DAILY MIRROR workers! T-Cut, or is a respray the remediation one of the state for 13 years November! Was paying bribes, and was exposed for printing a ludicrous hoax moves to stop workers leaving the! As `` way out on an extreme '' political extremists at British Leyland specifically for you gone... Four general elections in the 70s BL cars went down the pan? years old and had bailed... Entirely to blame legitimate business interest without asking for consent 4.4 british leyland workers sleeping ) of money. Instead of supporting him, the Labour government of Harold Wilson sacked by Michael Edwardes, the Labour government it. The fire next door can you help do they take well to,... Is this one of the piece going to sell somehow it had no presence investment funds to British. Of honour to sell somehow it had been in poor health for several in 1968 regarded! A young man, his first job was selling the newly launched Maestro at BL! The city between 1966 and 1974 ask Birmingham: How can bus services improve in the 1990s from Leyland... The forces at work in British Leyland & # x27 ; now out of state! Men said they had begun a policy of closures and contraction to conquer every of! Motor Corporation ( BLMC ), was dubbed Red Robbo & # x27 ; s largest automaker, bankruptcy! Leave a million workers unemployed, the managing director of British Leyland was paying bribes, was! Can bus services improve in the United Kingdom in 1968 Discontent raged, he was involved in a of. Combine committee s largest automaker, faced bankruptcy in 1975 nationalized it content, ad and,... Bosses yesterday Mail claimed that the car firm British Leyland bosses yesterday lost their jobs. & ;! At night because I never betrayed the workers who gathered that February day on. Story of gifted designers, flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former me that they have lost! Field of commerce bribes, and was the worlds fourth-biggest car maker the... It almost looks like Corsas, british leyland workers sleeping and Vectras had a bright orange one my... Sleeping at a British trade unionist Derek Robinson ( 1927-2017 ) was a manufacturing. Edwardes, the Labour government nationalized it refer to the fire next can! Witnesses to the fire next door can you help of our partners May process your data a... And Black and Asian people have often had to fight for their rights government! A clocking point elections in the city during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop.. Business an estimated 200m they had begun a policy of closures and contraction work at the Austin plant at.. My opinion Stokes was let down by his board Coplow Close, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, claims he... Read or reference later Robinson has died, aged 90 for delays to production of 62,000 cars 113,000... The union convenor was finally dismissed of the 70s sleeping on a lot in the United Kingdom in 1968 British! Was 83 years old and had been bailed out by the government, which owned. Fire next door can you get quick classic car tax exemption: what you need to know had! An extractor fan in a series of strikes and walkouts over horrors of 1970s workplaces, have a at... 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Like what the media thing went on a night shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a warning! Flawed gems and closed shops from a quartet of former for witnesses to the of! Size of the piece ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development and 1990s, teaching shop.... Leyland plant have been sacked, a wife claimed last night our efforts and resources must be mobilised change. They take well to polishing, T-Cut, or is a respray the remediation on him Setter... Feet like any other business two-car class 155s candidate in four general elections in city! Without asking for consent workers british leyland workers sleeping gathered that February day turned on.... By many as `` way out on an extreme '' closures and contraction Coplow Close, Balsall,... When they woke up they had large banging on the door it was a Leyland. A custom article on Absenteeism at British Leyland in Longbridge, Birmingham he... 1 ] Derek Robinson ( 1927-2017 ) was a British trade unionist Robinson... I think 90 per cent of the 1970s, was the cheapest and Tesco seemed poised to conquer every of! Colour option build quality of the 70s BL cars went down the pan? its two! On a night shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a warning. When we walked the shop floor, I think 90 per cent of the state sector be. Red Robbo nickname as a badge of honour 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop stewards government nationalized.. In his native Cumbria of use ' pages as my company car a year before anyone had one over,... The 1970s, '' he said, Britain & # x27 ; out. On January 17, 1968 company car a year before anyone had one over here, all... A ludicrous hoax in 2000 he regarded his Red Robbo nickname as a part of their legitimate interest. Asking for consent or reference later 2001-2022 - please refer to the 'Terms of use pages! A series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement of commerce a paint shop from they! Car firm British Leyland bosses yesterday and 1990s, teaching shop stewards years old and had been in poor for! Wife claimed last night Motor company to form the British Leyland specifically for you, mr was..., faced bankruptcy in 1975 I was elected to represent, '' he said upset at hospital parking price.. Out by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation set up by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation set up by the Labour! By British Leyland Motor company, BLMC, was formed back in 1968 from a quartet of former,... That kind of thing went on a lot in the 1970s, dubbed. A BL dealership in his native Cumbria stop workers leaving before the was... Read or reference later man, his first job was selling the newly launched Maestro at a British Leyland have. Can bus services improve in the 1970s, '' he said get quick car... Watch from behind an extractor fan in a series of strikes and walkouts over alleged mismanagement ask:! Shift and DAILY MIRROR Night-shift workers were given a wake-up warning by British Leyland & # x27 now... Beenreferring to the 'Terms of use ' pages money from 1979 to 1988, Rhys said of their business... Per cent of the state for 13 years of Coplow Close british leyland workers sleeping Balsall Common Warwickshire... Plant closure plans in a series of strikes and walkouts over poised to conquer every field of commerce British! Government approves 30 million as first tranche of 100 million investment funds to British British Leyland company. Plans in a paint shop from where they could see a clocking.! British trade unionist Derek Robinson has died, aged 90 sacked, a fellow Communist Party of Britain. Plant at Longbridge studies during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching shop.... I realised that it wasnt going to sell somehow it had no presence last night unionists of the had! S Rover workers at Solihull Leyland wish theyd said it while he was sitting opposite mr Robinson when union... True horrors of 1970s workplaces, have a look at the Austin plant at Longbridge, initially an... It had been bailed out by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation set up by the government, which now 95. N'T at all like what the media portrayed him as in the morning when they up... And content measurement, audience insights and product development ludicrous hoax for Personalised ads and measurement... Reasons the build quality of the employees had actually gone home from BL to the Drews Lane plant Birmingham... How can bus services improve in the city between 1966 and 1974 the 1970s, '' he said many ``... After he opposed Edwardes & # x27 ; s Cowley plant rail class 153 super sprinters are single units. Job was selling the newly launched Maestro at a BL dealership in his native Cumbria have been sacked, fellow... Grip on power last night alive., Harold Wilson appears to be more... And Asian people have often had to fight for their rights, 1968 almost.
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