Save Our Skills!MSF and GMB members at Rolls-Royce, Ansty, have been involved in an industrial dispute since the Company announced restructuring proposals in November. These proposals resulted in large job losses, with immediate impact on skilled and professional staff working in the Energy and Marine businesses at the Ansty site. Our next strike action is planned for Monday 26th February. The Ansty SiteRolls-Royce at Ansty, near Coventry, has operated as a base for design and development of Industrial and Marine gas turbines for over forty years. Rolls-Royce plc consists of a number of autonomous businesses or divisions. Activities at Ansty now constitute 2,400 employees in three main Rolls-Royce business units: Aero Repair and Overhaul; Manufacturing; and the Energy business. A small number of employees (approx. 50) are employed by the Marine business. The current dispute involves the 900 employees of the Energy/Marine business. A History of the Current DisputeRolls-Royce announced a proposed programme of restructuring, to a joint trade union forum, at the beginning of November. The main impact of this was at Ansty. In the Energy business, the proposal included relocation of R&D work to Montreal in Canada and the total Marine business to Bristol. The indication was that this would take place by mid 2001, resulting in 650 job losses. The Manufacturing group would also be closed or transferred to risk-sharing partnership, resulting in the loss of 650 jobs by the end of 2002. Trade unions in the Energy business immediately started work on an alternative business case to counter the Rolls-Royce proposals. On 8th of December, the Energy business issued an HR1 redundancy notice for 596 jobs and another for 50 jobs in the Marine division. These redundancies were announced before the company listened to the trade union alternative. The AlternativeThe joint union group, at Ansty, believes that the Rolls-Royce decision is a fundamental, strategic error and that it will cause irreparable damage to the business. We believe that the loss of skills will cause significant damage to the Energy business and are convinced that the company will not achieve the personnel transfers required to protect the technical knowledge base. The situation is made even more ridiculous given the current demands for skilled engineering and support staff on other Rolls-Royce sites. Our argument is that this work should be brought to Ansty where we have the correct skill-match. Unions are confident that restructuring and reduction in personnel can be managed on a voluntary basis. We have offered to enter into a mutually agreed restructuring programme. At a meeting between National Officers of the CSEU and the Rolls-Royce board, on 16th February, we offered to lift industrial action in exchange for genuine and open talks with the Company. Our main demand is the removal of the HR1 redundancy notice. Industrial ActionThe Energy business joint union group consists of members of MSF Technical Staff, MSF Foremen, MSF Management and GMB/APEX Technical and Administrative Support Staff. It is indicative of the strength of feeling amongst these employees that a ballot for industrial action resulted in votes as follows:
The first successful day of strike action was held on 9th February. Following the ballot for industrial action, members at Ansty have maintained a sustained programme of industrial action. This includes an on-going overtime ban, refusal to co-operate with transfer of our work, refusal to operate internal communications, refusal to complete weekly timesheet records and imposition of a casual dress code. Further disruptive action is planned. We are disappointed with the response of the Rolls-Royce board and we are convinced that the only method available to us to affect their decision is to continue to disrupt their business with industrial action. The Company is attempting to play with employment law by claiming that their plans will remain “proposals” during the 90 day consultation period of the HR1 but that, at the same time these “proposals” are “irreversible” and that the trade union campaign will not impact on them. Please Support Us!!The decline in our Manufacturing base cannot be allowed to continue! We must preserve key technical and engineering skills and keep R&D investment in the UK. Workers at Rolls-Royce Ansty are prepared to fight but we will not be successful without widespread support. We need your help to persuade the Rolls-Royce board to listen to us. Send letters of support c/o Amanda Richards, Secretary MSF, Rolls-Royce Ansty, CV7 9JR. E-mail: vince@vbutler25.freeserve.co.uk Sign and circulate our petition and return to MSF, Lincoln House,14 Edward Street, Birmingham B1 2RX by no later than 3 March 2001 Send financial support c/o Coventry Trades Union Council, Koco Building, Unit 15, Arches Industrial Estate, Spon End, Coventry, CV1 3JQ. Cheques should be made payable to “Ansty DATA Fund” Write to your local MP/MEP, giving details of your support and outlining your concerns. We would be grateful if you could forward any responses. Most importantly, please forward this document to any contacts you have in the trade union and labour movement and ask them to do the same. Rolls-Royce Ansty
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