Cowley ~ LDV - Things Likely To Get Awkward For The Awkward Squad
Stalingrad O'Neill - e-mail: robograd@tiscali.co.uk | 26.02.2009 16:12 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Birmingham
A contrast between the state of art, modern BMW Cowley plant at Oxford and Birmingham’s dilapidated LDV plant at Washwood Heath
Picket with some of the sacked Temporary workers
Student supporters
Cowley worker being interviewed by Oxford Paper
Other Trade Unionists from Oxford Trades Council on picket
Depression Shaped? (Spotted on far side of road, opposite Cowley’s No1 Gate)
Will this ship be able to steer clear of the rock of recession?
The management department seem intent on drawing the blinds over that question
Seems one worker ain’t too ‘reliant’ on the company staying afloat
Shot of plant interior
Shot of production line
Media Shark encampment
LDV carpark - Tatty poster giving voice to unfulfilled promises
Unsold vans pile up in company’s parking lot
Accumulation of unsold vans another view
LDV Masthead corner of Drews Lane
Media Shark encampment (2) with corresponding cameramen and live broadcasters
Employee’s car park, Gate No 4 stuffed with unsold vans
Depressing view of inaction at Gate No 5 location
Rather splendid period managerial complex
Still ‘Brum Wobbly’ got an interview with a retired BMW plant worker
Interview:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/birmingham/2009/02/422724.html The clearly visible £230m investment in Cowley, seemingly allows the plant to limp on, abet with strategies like speeding up the track, sacking batches of workers and putting others on short time with its corresponding Working Time Account (WTA)
There is no guarantee that the plant will out live this depression despite its original investment
Short time:
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1639 Returning to Brum, we went over to the Washwood Heath LDV van manufacturer plant acquired by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s Gaz Group for £50m three years ago There is little visible evidence of the £400m that Daewoo its previous owners, touted they were investing back in 1999, in fact it’s been a sad story of job shedding all the way to the present
According to plant workers spoken to outside the LDV complex, the track at the plant hasn’t moved since Dec gone! Most were just coming in to pick up their P45s and go down to t’ dole office or the Jobcentre ‘Plus’ as its now known!
Interview:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/media/2009/02//422734.mp4 The company seems to be little short of dead, as was evident from the circling media sharks, who’s broadcast vans and outside newscasters were setting up camp in the vicinity
Oh yes the unions … the famed and commended ‘Awkward Squad’ where they? Who knows certainly not ‘round here !
Photo copyright Stalingrad O'Neill - permission is required for third party usage
Stalingrad O'Neill - e-mail: robograd@tiscali.co.uk
e-mail:
robograd@tiscali.co.uk
Comments
Display the following 3 comments