By Dutch socialists Wim Baltussen and Wim Dorssers (union activists at DAF Eindhoven) TRUCK manufacturing worldwide is in a disastrous state. In 1975, there were 25 European truck manutacturers. Now there are just 10, and the expectation is that by the year 2000 there will be just three or four.
DAF is the first big company to face at least partial hutdown. On February 6 it was announced that at least 2600 workers of the 5000 at Eindhoven will be and some 750 out of 1400 in Belgium will also probably lose their jobs.
at Leyland is unclear, time of writing it seems many thousands of British workers will also soon be on the dole DAF took over the truck of British Leyland in 1987. It all looked very promising. The British truck market was the biggest in Europe, and with a market of 30 per cent, DAF instantly became the largest player.
Total sales nearly doubled. 3200m; by 1989 they hit 5000m. Profits went up from Fl 32m to Fl 172m over the same period.
But takeovers that year of Austria's Stevr and Spain's Enasa went wrong. lapsed. Leyland's right hand drive models couldn't be sold on the continent. Losses soared and the banks forced DAF to negotiate with Germany's Mercedes-Benz.
High quality
DAF has real attractions for Mercedes. It has developed a range of completely new, high quality engines and cabins; its service network is excellent; and its European market share, at 8 per cent, is not negligible. Leytand convenor Bullen on the march closures Negotiations with Japanese truckbuilder Hino - probably designed to put pressure on Mercedes went badiy wrong. That brings us to the current situation.
Overcapacity is rampant, and the same goes for steel, airplanes, cars and electronics. Mass lay-offs, mergers and plant closures are the answer for the bosses.
Such problems have to be ly way. Our unions have to demand: shorter working. no overtime, night, or shift work, early retirement, lowered work-rhythms, government support and investment, reconversion to environmentally friendly useful produc tion.
It's not the easiest way and the bosses are way ahead on the international level. But there are no other answers if we want to stop what is happening now.
The authors are members of SAP, Dutch section of the Fourth International AROUND 5,500 jobs are under threat at Leyland DAF after three Lloyds - pulled the plug on the truck and van manufacturer's Dutch parent company.
Most UK employees work either In Leyland, Lancashire, or Birmingham, but the company has smaller Lancashire, ano sname in va Over 5,000 people through Leyland last Friday to demand that the local assembly plant, which employs 2,200, stays open. Banners read "Quality Trucks. Quality Workers" and "Do not let Loyland die".
They were followed by a line of truck cab units, and two historical vehicles from the town's commer. cial musoum.