Mugged by Referee
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It is tragic that union members in the British branch of a cornpany employing nearly half a million people in 30 countries should have ceased work for nine weeks at the drop of a hat in support of a totally irresponsible wage claim. It is equally reprehensible that at the end of the day Ford should be punished by the Government for trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to uphold the Government's wage policy.
Sir Terence Beckett, chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, has a gift for the apt phrase as well as the courage to say what he thinks.
"We've been hit below the belt by the strike and then mugged by the referee in the form of sanctions," he says. The company has also been subject of continual sniping from within. Unofficial disputes are the main reason why Ford lost nearly 5 million man-hours last year. An all-out strike is at least the devil you know.