With the final breakdown of negotiations last Wednes day (14 November), and the official elesure of Triumph Birmingham, another member of tho NVT group Meriden on Friday, the fight at this Caventry mador cycle factory has reached a crucial stage, The occupation of the factory continues, and the 1,750 workers have locked away 2,500 completed motor cycles worth two million dollars on the American market (wbich is at ats pesk).
Denmis Poore tho manating director of Manganese Bronze, (which has taken over the Norton Villiers Triuuph combine, owners of Triumiph Meriden). ominously commented to the press that he 'boped" that the dispute would not lead to the use of thugs to brezk the picket lne, as at Charysher On Monday a 400-strong mass picket was hurriedly organised. Delegates irom most major factorios in Coventy pledged support for as long as the strugek:
Reports on the negotiatioes with the company were givon by Leslie Huckfield, Labour MP for Nabeaten, and Bil Lapworth, T&GWU distret afficiat, All Hockfeld could do was to den cunoe Poore as the "butcher of the British motor cycle industry." Tote was no mention of the plan to set up u workers co-operative, in which they had placed such taith u few wecks ago.
The cicht weeks of negotiacions heve shown clearly the reasons for the Triumph elesure. Wage levels at Some of the 2,500 motor cycles held by the Triumph workers. Will they sell them? Sale of the Merkden site, worth S2 enlion. is aim ost complete, And a grant of f4.8 mitlion teoit the tracks and machinery to be bult at Small Hearh, so Ihat production can be transfersed from Meriden. There has never heen any question of Poore selling the name Triumph, or the marketing network in the USA, to a workers co operative. The only staregy that Huckfield and Lapweeth can now ufler is a petition demanding an onguiry into the Betisb motor cycle industry and the use of tbe t4.8 million of -LL BULELS HEENILS On Monday only John Fisker, the ASTMS district officinl, offered any real way forward. He called for mass Lo ustTat cocon lcwenerr, not sm py zena s cial assistanor — a one day, or week long, stoppes would put pressire trom Corentry amploger on Pacie The shop stewards conntitlee needs moncy to finance the fight, and mass support in the event of police attenapts to- evict the workers, Donations and nessagos of soldarity should be scof tor Slop Stewands Committee, Triumph Matar Cycles, Muriden Warks, Allesley, Corentry.