victimisation of a leading trade union activist. They sacked Bob Cullen, an elected deputy senior shop steward in the Cowley Assembly Plant in November for allegedly damaging the windscreen wiper foreman's car on a picket line on the gates of the plant. The public statement, which we reprint here. shows conclusively that he was framed by management.
Since the shop stewards movement was weakened in BL by workers participation in the mid 1970s, and then attacked continuously under Michael Edwardes in the late 1970s and early 1980s. BL have conducted a policy of victimising stewards. Bob Cullen. I HAVE just been sacked after 15 years at BL's Cowley Assembly Plant having been a shop steward for many years and last year was elected as a deputy senior shop steward by ballot vote of the workforce. I have been sacked by Austin Rover management, accused of something which happened when I was not even there. This is apparently the level to which Austin Rover management is now prepared to sink in order to victimise active trade unionists and break the unions.
I am accused of bending the windscreen wiper arm of a foreman's private car outside the gate, on one of the Sunday morning pickets on the overtime ban prior to the pay strike. The incident took place on gate 16 of the plant, yet, as is well known, I was picketing on gate 10 that morning for the whole of the time.
It is a classic case of mistaken identity. The incident took place in the early morning when it was still dark. It was pouring with rain. Derek Jones, the foreman concerned, has only one eye. He did not know me at the time, and as a result has mistaken me for someone else who looks physically similar.
Derek Jones is the only witness against me. He made a written complaint alter being interviewed by management. It is purely on the basis of this statement that I have been sacked.
Management have no other witnesses (they first said they had another witness and then withdrew him). I have twelve witnesses who have given written statements to the effect that I was never on gate 16 that morning but on gate 10, including the works security man on gate 10 who has said that he was standing talking to me for most of the period of the picket.
None of the security men on gate 16 can remember seeing me there. There are also two witnesses who have given written statements naming the person who was actually responsible incident. Management have interviewed them and
197k a binson stewards ind in 1979; a group Longbridge in November 1981. Alan Thornett was sacked i November 1982, and now Bob Cullen in November 1984.
There is a reason why steward are sacked in November. BL's wage review on November 1. Given time it gets sold out. After that
ere is a period of demoralisatio
hich comes just before Christma: weeks which collapsed when 8 of the 9 unions in ARG complied with the law over balloting and dimmed the strike. The workiorce was deeply demoralised particularly in the main plants which supported the "I WAS are fully aware of the strength of their evidence.
This is not to say that the person who was responsible should be disciplined in any way or has contravened works rules. The incident took place outside the plant and therefore outside of management jurisdiction. If Derek Jones had a complaint to make about damage to his car his obvious redress was to the law. Particularly since there were two uniformed civil police on Jate 16 that morningt, also chose not t yet he chose not tr report it to them. report it to three works security guards on gate 16 that morning - who have no recollection of the incident having happend di
find it inconceivable that someone could have their car damaged right next to two policemen and not report it to them. I find it even more inexplicable that he should go to management at a later date and identify me as the person responsible when I was not even there!
Why didn't management report it to the police themselves? The union has urged
hem to take the issue to court and the will
ccept the outcome but they have refuser to do so. They were quick to take the unions to court over the pay strike! It can only be because they have no case to present.
I am sacked and they intend that I stay sacked. They are hoping that there will be no strike over this and therefore not too Socialist Viewpoint, No. 3, February 1985. Page 12
AUSTIN ROVER
By Alan Thornett strikis encouraged Austin Rover to sacked for thial Precesly tick go even further. would not normally be the subject of discipline as with Derek Robinson and Alan Thornett. This time they tamed Bob Cullen anc sacked him for a minor incident which happened when he was not ven Cullen has now boor sacked
I 3 months. He is a member of t
GWU, and his case has been tl subject of a national conference after his appeal was rejected.
As we go to press, Ron Todd is to meet Harold Musgrave on the sacking shortly, and if Bob Cullen is not reinstated the matter will be put to a meeting in the plant. FRAMED!" much publicity. won't have need to justify my sacking. Their obsession is to end any effective trade unionism witin the Cowley Assembly Plant, and to prevent any challenge to the dictatorial conditions they have imposed inside their factories.
My sacking is something new. Previously they have sacked active shop stewards for "minor offences" which would not normally have been the subject of discipline
Derek Robinson's case, for example, for putting his opinions in a TU publication, in Alan Thornett's case for a lapsed driving licence).
Although they are accusing me of a minor offence the fact is that I have been framed. Management must know this is a case of mistaken identity but they are prepared to use it to sack me, because it suits their ends.
My case is not yet finalised — although 1 am off the payroll. Because the case is so outrageous the union have refused to accept it at the end of the disciplinary procedure and are calling, immediately after the Christmas holiday, for the intervention of the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union.
After that it will go back to the membership in the plant, particularly the trim shop, who I am confident will not allow this outrageous frame-up to go past.
Bob Cullen