Foden strike is resolved
Page 7
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is over When the Paccar-owned Foden Trucks manufacturer announced that there would be a return to full-time five-day working from May 23, it also gave notice of 99 redundancies.
The Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, representing around 350 shop floor workers, asked the company to consider proposals for continuing short-time working. The company said it was not practicable to do so, and after a membership vote, the union informed management that they would strike on June 7 if it did not change.
Last-minute talks last Monday failed to reach any agreement and there was a walk out on June 2, But the AUEW conducted a very low-key cam paign. A token picket of three stood at the main gate on the first morning, to stop any AUEW members from going into work, but there was no attempt to even ask the other 250 employees to join them.
The Union also did not attempt to interfere with deliveries of components and other materials to the plant. The convenor, Bill Jinks, explained that the only mandate was to strike and a mass meeting was held on June 8 to decide whether or not to step up their action.
In the event, the mass meeting that afternoon voted by a two to one majority to return to work the next day. Some of the redundancies will be taken by a few employees able to apply for the Government's job release scheme, but the rest hope that the AUEW will be able to nego tiate what it sees as a good redundancy pay settlement.
Managing director Hank Kiefer refused to comment on the dispute.