Save Ryton!
Apr 30 2006
As many of you would have read the last major car manufacturer in coventry is about to close, the peugeot owned Ryton plant near coventry will be closed mid 2007 to save costs by using eastern european workers who are less well organised and would be paid as low as a 1/4 of what the workers in the Ryton plant get paid.
West Midlands Anarchists, Warwick Anarchists and Birmingham Solfed will be discussing what actions to take at our meeting this friday, i hope that groups the breadth of the country and beyond will come out and and engage in solidarity actions for the workers and their families.
May 2 2006
#2
The workers who came to our mayday rally said that the only way we can stop ryton closing is hurting their profits by picketing and imo taking direct action against the dealers. Also there have been offers of sympathy strikes from workers in other parts of europe, which would have an effect on peugeot production.
The workers if they strike now will still deal a blow to peugeot, but as it stands the spineless twats like des quinn are locked in talks with them, and off begging brown to intervene.
May 2 2006
#3
WeTheYouth wrote:
The workers if they strike now will still deal a blow to peugeot,
You don't think like others have said it's be an excuse to sack them all + shut down early?
May 2 2006
#4
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
The workers if they strike now will still deal a blow to peugeot,You don't think like others have said it's be an excuse to sack them all + shut down early?
i know that. but they still have cars to build.
May 2 2006
#5
WeTheYouth wrote:
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
The workers if they strike now will still deal a blow to peugeot,You don't think like others have said it's be an excuse to sack them all + shut down early?
i know that. but they still have cars to build.
I don't think that addresses the point - they could build them more cheaply abroad, hence why they're moving
May 2 2006
#6
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
The workers if they strike now will still deal a blow to peugeot,You don't think like others have said it's be an excuse to sack them all + shut down early?
i know that. but they still have cars to build.
I don't think that addresses the point - they could build them more cheaply abroad, hence why they're moving
I know. What would you suggest the workers should do?
May 2 2006
#7
Hi
Quote:
What would you suggest the workers should do?
Sequestrate the assets of Peugeot and it’s shareholders and open a combined nano-energy, hydrogen fuel cell and water desalination plant on the redundant site.
Either that or give the Guardian and associated middle class hand-wringers a call and ask how they suggest they "make poverty history" in Coventry. Presumably the tried and tested formula they so cleverly used on the third world should work here too. Perhaps some kind of rubber bracelet is in order.
Love
LR
May 2 2006
#8
or, for now (assuming that the plant makes whole cars, not just parts of cars) occupy the factory as a workers' co-op/syndicate, keep making cars, and sell them themselves...
not that that's anywhere near likely to happen, or that either the state or the market would allow it if it did, but i think (even as a non-syndicalist anarchist) that's a fairly "textbook" @ist answer to that question...
May 2 2006
#9
Hi
Quote:
keep making cars, and sell them themselves...
For that to work, you'd need a kind of retread of 1979’s “Buy British” campaign. Who was in charge of that?
Love
LR
May 3 2006
#10
can only imagine what stress the workers are going through 
rover is still a raw issue with a lot of us and this is just another kick in the teeth.
wtf are those workers going to do if they loose their jobs
few friends of mine who lost their job at rover (one was there for 9 years) ended up in a fucking call centre on worse wages
May 3 2006
#11
rebel_lion wrote:
not that that's anywhere near likely to happen, or that either the state or the market would allow it if it did, but i think (even as a non-syndicalist anarchist) that's a fairly "textbook" @ist answer to that question...
I don't think it is - people pointed out on the other thread how silly that is. They'll still be subject to market forces - they'll just have to end up cutting their own wages + conditions to compete.
I dunno it seems like the best option could be to keep working there, individually look for other jobs/retrain, demanding job opportunities + layoff pay, possibly occupy the plant towards the end to get a bigger payoff, threaten to destroy valuable equipment, etc. (a la Cellatex plant). I don't know though it's a bastard 
May 3 2006
#12
Giles Dauve wrote:
However deeply entrenched in mines or workshops, workers' militancy could not resist restructuring. Labour is strong as long as it's necessary to capital. Otherwise, it can delay redundancy, sometimes for years with support from the rest of the working community, but it can't stay on for ever as an unprofitable labour force. In the 70s and 80s workers had number and organization, but they lost because the economy deprived them of their function, which is their social weapon. Nothing will force capital to hire labour that is not useful to it.
May 4 2006
#13
Jack wrote:
Giles Dauve wrote:
However deeply entrenched in mines or workshops, workers' militancy could not resist restructuring. Labour is strong as long as it's necessary to capital. Otherwise, it can delay redundancy, sometimes for years with support from the rest of the working community, but it can't stay on for ever as an unprofitable labour force. In the 70s and 80s workers had number and organization, but they lost because the economy deprived them of their function, which is their social weapon. Nothing will force capital to hire labour that is not useful to it.
Nice, but the plant is profitable and has been producing the most succesful peugeot in history the 206.
May 4 2006
#14
A small update, Jim O'Boyle from the TGWU along with Amicus has tabled a proposition to save 1000 jobs at ryton today.
May 4 2006
#15
WeTheYouth wrote:
Jack wrote:
Giles Dauve wrote:
However deeply entrenched in mines or workshops, workers' militancy could not resist restructuring. Labour is strong as long as it's necessary to capital. Otherwise, it can delay redundancy, sometimes for years with support from the rest of the working community, but it can't stay on for ever as an unprofitable labour force. In the 70s and 80s workers had number and organization, but they lost because the economy deprived them of their function, which is their social weapon. Nothing will force capital to hire labour that is not useful to it.Nice, but the plant is profitable and has been producing the most succesful peugeot in history the 206.
how is that relevant? Manufacturing in this country is just not profitable enough.
May 4 2006
#16
John. wrote:
WeTheYouth wrote:
Jack wrote:
Giles Dauve wrote:
However deeply entrenched in mines or workshops, workers' militancy could not resist restructuring. Labour is strong as long as it's necessary to capital. Otherwise, it can delay redundancy, sometimes for years with support from the rest of the working community, but it can't stay on for ever as an unprofitable labour force. In the 70s and 80s workers had number and organization, but they lost because the economy deprived them of their function, which is their social weapon. Nothing will force capital to hire labour that is not useful to it.Nice, but the plant is profitable and has been producing the most succesful peugeot in history the 206.
how is that relevant? Manufacturing in this country is just not profitable enough.
So the workers who have created the biggest car for peugeot and to then be shit on is not relevant?
And what the hell is going on, why are we even discussing the how profitable a plant is, when what really matters in that over 2300 people will be out of work and what are we going to do to support the workers?
May 4 2006
#17
WeTheYouth wrote:
So the workers who have created the biggest car for peugeot and to then be shit on is not relevant?
the fact that capitalism is not nice is not really relevant no. We know it's not nice.
Quote:
And what the hell is going on, why are we even discussing the how profitable a plant is, when what really matters in that over 2300 people will be out of work? and what are we going to do to support the workers?
capital by its nature is unconcerned with human happiness or welfare - it is entirely based on profit. Therefore whatever is not profitable enough will not be done, it's the way the system works.
As to how to support them? Try to build workers' power where you are... if you're closer to them in some way, live nearby say, there may be other things you can do. but the plant won't be saved.
May 4 2006
#18
Quote:
Quote:Quote:
And what the hell is going on, why are we even discussing the how profitable a plant is, when what really matters in that over 2300 people will be out of work? and what are we going to do to support the workers?As to how to support them? Try to build workers' power where you are... if you're closer to them in some way, live nearby say, there may be other things you can do. but the plant won't be saved.
Then why are we not discussing action? Why are we not discussing what everyone is doing in their locality?
The plant can be saved. Even if the downisize of production tabled by the unions is all that can be achieved, the plant can still be saved. And if it is not, atleast we should throw all of our energies in to save it, to build solidarity between different sections of the working class.
May 4 2006
#19
Hi
WeTheYouth wrote:
And what the hell is going on, why are we even discussing the how profitable a plant is, when what really matters in that over 2300 people will be out of work and what are we going to do to support the workers?
I expect they’re more concerned with loosing their incomes than they are at loosing their scintillating occupations.
John. wrote:
capital by its nature is unconcerned with human happiness or welfare
Capital, by its nature, is incapable of concern altogether. Even for “profit”. The plant is closing due the strategic plan of the middle class people who run the firm, they’re opening up a new super plant to create a manufacturing “platform model” which will be shared amongst ostensibly competing brands. They’re happy to sacrifice profit from Ryton in order to maintain their individual social status.
WeTheYouth wrote:
The plant can be saved. Even if the downisize of production tabled by the unions is all that can be achieved, the plant can still be saved. And if it is not, atleast we should throw all of our energies in to save it, to build solidarity between different sections of the working class.
It would be easier to reopen the coal mines. Even when the factory closes, Peugeot still owns it, to keep it open you’d have to buy it or steal it. Isn’t saving your factory a bit like voting Labour? Jobs aren’t handed out as favours, or rewards for good behaviour, you know. Why not just print money off and hand it out to the redundant workers? Would it be so inflationary? I don’t think so.
Love
LR
May 4 2006
#20
Quote:
WeTheYouth wrote:And what the hell is going on, why are we even discussing the how profitable a plant is, when what really matters in that over 2300 people will be out of work and what are we going to do to support the workers?
I expect they’re more concerned with loosing their incomes than they are at loosing their scintillating occupations.
No Shit.
Quote:
Quote:
WeTheYouth wrote:The plant can be saved. Even if the downisize of production tabled by the unions is all that can be achieved, the plant can still be saved. And if it is not, atleast we should throw all of our energies in to save it, to build solidarity between different sections of the working class.
It would be easier to reopen the coal mines. Even when the factory closes, Peugeot still owns it, to keep it open you’d have to buy it or steal it. Isn’t saving your factory a bit like voting Labour? Jobs aren’t handed out as favours, or rewards for good behaviour, you know. Why not just print money off and hand it out to the redundant workers? Would it be so inflationary? I don’t think so.
Why not do some of the things you talk about on here? Or is the armchair infront of your PC too cosy?
Quote:
WeTheYouth wrote:And if it is not, atleast we should throw all of our energies in to save it
I know you're very enthusiastic, but seriously why is this more important than anything else?
I always have alot of energy for everything im involved. And why is this important? Because it is about defending our own.
Admin - discussion about whether anarchist should devote all their energies to this split to here:
May 5 2006
#21
If you do a google news search for "ryton", guess what's top of the list? 8) <= click me
May 5 2006
#22
the button wrote:
If you do a google news search for "ryton", guess what's top of the list? 8) <= click me
cool.
May 5 2006
#23
After a meeting on 5/5/2006 Birmingham Solidarity Federation, West Midlands Anarchists and Warwick Anarchists are calling for demonstrations outside peugeot dealerships on saturday 13th may.
The peugeot plant at Ryton is one of the most succesful and productive plants peugeot has ever owned, it has made more cars in five years than its counter part in madrid made in thirty years, it has been building the award winning and record breaking peugeot 206 and is the most flexible workforce in europe. The plant is still profitable, and workers have invested a lifes worth of labour at the ryton plant, only to be made redundant because peugeot want to use labour in Slovakia which is cheaper.
We call on comrades to come out in solidarity with the peugeot workers and send messages of support.
If you will arrange solidarity actions, please contact us so we can keep track of where actions are taking place.
May 10 2006
#24
Change of time from 12 to 11. The peugeot workers will also be in attendance.
Organise! are also organising demonstrations in ireland.
If any group would like me to pass on messages of solidarity to the workers please email them to me or PM me with them.
May 10 2006
#25
WeTheYouth wrote:
Change of time from 12 to 11. The peugeot workers will also be in attendance.Organise! are also organising demonstrations in ireland.
Well done for organising this WTY. What kinda stuff did the peugeot workers say to you guys, any idea what the mood is? and have french workers said they'll go on solidarity strike with them (as implied by the "come out" in the news piece)?
Jun 23 2006
#26
Hi
I wonder what the to-be-laid-off at Ryton actually want. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are redundancies. What is “meaningful action” in the Ryton context? I’m not sure there can be any without a concrete objective.
Love
LR
Quick question: I don't get how it's possible to do anything that would make a company want not to close a workplace it's resolved to close. I'm sure I've heard lots of stories about campaigns against the closure of some workplaces - but how do they work?
Because campaigns for other reasons, such as for better working conditions, would generally rely on doing things like strikes which cost the company money, and so giving it an incentive to climb down. But how can making a workplace more expensive make them less likely to close it, given that the original reason was that it was too expensive?
And I guess that the company wouldn't respond to local comunity pressure etc. because... it's leaving. Is the only way to approach things like this by asking for solidarity from workers in less precarious positions - those in France whose workplaces aren't threatened for example?