22.06.1995

Rolls closure deal

Last month 600 Rolls Royce workers gave up the fight to save their jobs, and accepted the closure of the design and development and customer support sections in East Kilbride. The Weekly Worker spoke to the MSF union branch chair, Owen Thomas

What are the details of the settlement?

The closure will now take place in March 1996, which gives us an extra nine months’ work, and the cash offered represents the best redundancy settlement achieved in Rolls Royce.

Nevertheless, several hundred jobs have been lost. Why was the deal accepted?

The company was mad enough to shut the place and we didn’t feel they would retreat.

Also 200 workers have been lost from the site since the original ballot. Some have transferred to the adjacent overhaul section and some have followed the work to Derby. Others have left the company.

Was there any bitterness over the decision?

Not really. About 30 to 40 voted to continue the action.

What lessons have been learnt from the dispute?

The lessons are that strike action works. We forced so many concessions as a result of our action. Secondly, it is important to campaign as widely as possible, if only to boost your own morale.

Could the dispute have been won?

A different government and different laws were needed, to be able to act with more surprise, more effectiveness.

But Tony Blair is already committed to keep most of the anti-union laws. Surely no capitalist government will carry out those reforms in present conditions?

You may be right. I certainly agree about Tony Blair.