The combativity and self-confidence that the workers at. Fisher Bendix gained from this victory can be gauged from the fact that within one year of the occupation they had won a 35 hour week, a wage increase to bring the rate up to £1 an hour, and an extra week's holiday a year. But the new company invested not one penny in new plant and machinery, and by mid-1974 was claiming that without a fl million government subsidy it would be impossible to keep the factory going.
There was now a Labour Government in office, however, with Tony Benn responsible for any such subsidies. In these circumstances it became perfectly acceptable to the stewards that they should become involved in discussing how to keep the firm going.
On 10 July, IPD called in the receiver, who grants. By a combination of left phraseology - calling co-operatives 'industrial democracy in action' - together with outright refusal to give any lead for nationalisation of bankrupt industries, the Labour leaders have thus far managed to direct the fight against redundancies and for the right to work into co-operatives, a channel perfectly acceptable to big business.
Of course, today many workers see nationalisation as synonymous with attempts to rationalise essential but unprofitable sectors 'of the economy. But the nationalisation of bankrupt industries forced by militant occupations and mass action would be a very different proposition and would pose a clear political lead to all workers. It is just this that the Labour leadership has so far successfully avoided.
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Government intervention. Year.
How can you tell when a firm's going bankrupt? It offers its workers a 'revolutionary' deal including (a) worker participation, (b) profit-sharing, and (c) possible That's what Red Weekly said about Chrysler's worker participation scheme, produced out of a hat back in May to get the 4,000 workers at the key Stoke, Coventry engine plant to call off their pay strike. The 'strings that strangle were accepted. The men were offered two lump sums of £50 to accept the deal-and thousands will soon be finding out that the second instalment is all the money they will be getting from Chrysler in the New Time is running short for Chrysler workers. To save their jobs, reliance red weekly 2u november 1975 Car bosses offer 'new deal'red weekly 15 may 1975 The efficienty and prosperity of Dayla PARTICIPATION2 chrysler/teachers