Wednesday 13 May at 7.30 pm in the Dolphin Hotel, Swansea. Speakers include Frank Jepson (Convenor at Visteon Basildon) and Kevin Nolan (Convenor at Visteon Enfield).

All trade unionists welcome

Donations to Rob Williams campaign details

Make cheques out to TGWU 4/1 branch

Send to Linamar workers hardship fund

31 Waun Wen Terrace Swansea SA1 1DX

Or make donations direct through your own bank to

T&G 4/1 branch

sort code 086001

account number 20055051

Linamar plan to lower terms and conditions

It has become clear why Linamar management sacked Swansea Unite Convenor Rob Williams on Wednesday. Group President Brian Wade outlined to Tony Woodley the Company's 'proposal' to lower terms and conditions within the plant.

This will involve 'buying down' (worsening) contracts with a one off 'sweetener' payment. There is no detail of amounts yet but it is clear that it will involve a substantial drop in wages, worse sick scheme etc.

Also, the Company announced that they fully intend breaking the agreement that they made with the union when they took the factory over last July. This was to establish a final salary pension scheme for those Ford-mirrored workers who were in the plant before Visteon spin-off in 2000, and for the Visteon New Hire contracts who were subsequently employed later.

Wade pretended to be concerned about the lack of a pension for the lowest tier in the plant - yet Linamar refused the union's call for them to get a pension last summer!

Therefore, the timing of Rob's sacking is of no surprise. It comes a week after 140 workers were made voluntarily redundant - including a number of senior stewards - and before the pay deals are to be concluded for two of the three contracts.

Incidentally, one of the last straws for management could well have been when the Ford-mirrored members refused Wade's 'offer', which was for them to refuse the 5.25% Ford pay rise. Ford pay rises have always been seen in the plant as the yardstick for all contract negotiations.

Clearly, Linamar management correctly could not "trust" that Rob Williams would recommend these attacks to the members!

Now the choice for Swansea workers is clear - fight the sacking of Rob and defend their terms and conditions and pensions and their right to work in a place free of intimidation or face a future of attack after attack.

In Canada before Christmas workers in all but one of the Linamar plants had their pay cut by 10%. They were informed of this by email!!

The only plant that didn't suffer this was unionised. Sooner or later, bullies like Wade and the Linamar management will be confronted by a workforce which is tired of being pushed around and walked over. It will inevitably happen, in Canada, China and Swansea.

With its great fighting traditions, Swansea Linamar workers could be in the forefront of defending their rights.

Continue to phone protests to:

Head of Swansea Linamar Brian Wade 01792 656339

Personnel Manager 01792 656238

Messages of protest to [email protected]

Messages of support to Rob Williams: [email protected]

and Socialist Party Wales: [email protected]

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.