Catalogue description Interview with Keith Burns employee of Vauxhalls, born Silsoe 1925 - educated at Silsoe...

This record is held by Bedfordshire Archives

Details of X819/11/13
Reference: X819/11/13
Description:

Interview with Keith Burns employee of Vauxhalls, born Silsoe 1925 - educated at Silsoe School, started 1942 at Vauxhalls following father (patternmaker there 1921 on). Joined up in Army 1943 rejoined Vauxhalls 1947 trainee in bar shop - nuts, bolts, track rods, "u" bolts to fit to axles - 300 men worked there. Trainee wages 4åd per hour, 46å hour week. 1947 gets Green Card for AUEW - met at Busy Bee Cafe, then Luton West meeting at Bury Park School - Vauxhalls only closed shop in 1970's 1958-1959 increased union membership at Vauxhalls because assembly A C Block for passenger side increases staff and many of whom union members already. Management Advisory Committee represents all - union only represented minority. Earliest "strike" couple of sections stop as result of Management's efforts to relocate staff from passenger to commerical as a result of down turn of demand for cars because of Suez. Group Bonus System worked well - Unions successfully get rid of it; Profit sharing discussed. Burns favourable opinions on Sir Charles Bartlett and Sir Reginald Pearson

Date: 21 Jan 1982
Held by: Bedfordshire Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Immediate source of acquisition:

Acc No 6977

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