X819/11/13

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 4Ã¥d per hour, 46Ã¥ 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.

21 Jan 1982

From: 1982 To: 1982

item

Holden, Len T.,
Vauxhall Motors,
Burns, Keith,
Silsoe School,
Busy Bee Cafe,
Bury Park School,
Pearson, Reginald,
Bartlett, Charles,
Bartlett, Sir Charles,
Pearson, Sir Reginald

Vauxhall Motors, car manufacture, employment, Silsoe School, pattern maker, Bury Park School, unions, army, BEDFORD, LUTON, SILSOE, Suez