Labour Party
1976: The fight for useful work at Lucas Aerospace
History of how arms company workers struggled against closure and for a change in their work from weapons manufacture to socially useful production.
In the 1970s workers at the Lucas Aerospace Company in Britain set out to defeat the bosses plans to axe jobs. They produced their own alternative "Corporate Plan" for the company's future. In doing so they attacked some of the underlying priorities of capitalism.
'Curb union influence', says former TGWU leader Sir Bill Morris
Former TGWU leader Sir Bill Morris has called for trade union influence over the Labour Party to be curbed. He claimed the unions' agenda was "merely to defeat the government".
In a GMTV interview to be aired on Sunday, he also urged "radical reform" to boost union membership and an end to jostling for John Prescott's job. Sir Bill is due to be elevated to the Lords next week as Labour peer. The TGWU says his views have changed since he was their leader.




