Plessey workers followed the UCS work-in with a strike -in. pation. In four weeks not only did their occupation set Merseyside alight, it terrified employers and forced Harold Wilson to intervene personally.
Labour costs
The Fisher Bendix company intended to transfer production of its washing machines to Spain to lower labour costs, and planned to close the factory by May 1972. An animated discussion on the relative merits of a work-in or sit-in took place amongst the shop stewards and militants. A delegation was sent to UCS and Plessey to review the effectiveness of the alternatives. Jack Spriggs, AUEW convenor, reported:
*We decided that the UCS-type operation of a work-in was impractical for us. Plessey was more effective. The work-in involves problems of supply to keep production going, sales of products and payments of workers. At Plessey a strike-in is tying up the movement of
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