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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125838
Norton-Villiers Triumph hangs up on union sit-in at Meriden The British motorcycle industry is not out of the financial woods, yet. New NVT group Chairman Dennis Poore's lans for consolidation of manufacturing-and production facilities in order to operate them profitably is being blocked by members of EngliSh automotive unions whom Poore calls "saboteurs". Union members at Triumph-BSA's former Meriden plant have staged a sit-in within the plant to prevent closing the facility an.d removal of capital machinery to the Smallheath plant near Bi!min~am when: production of Tnumph motorcycles was to resume. This union 'sit-inf\ock-out is also having two other costly side effects. There is a series of already built motorcycles inside the plant which cannot be removed to export and sell, plus there is a work force standing idle at the Smallheath plant awaiting the arrival of the production machinery which was to be shipped down from Meriden and reassembled. The cost in payroll and lost sales is estimated by NVT at 20,000 pounds a day (about 50,000 dollars U.S.). The loss will not affect NVT's capability in the long run, according to l'oore, but clearly some of the working capital in tended for re-tooling, modernizing and malting the Sri tish bike industry again competitive with the Japanese will be used to offset this loss. The sit-in a.t the Meriden plant by union members afraid of losing their jobs has hurt short-range plans to tum the profit-l6ss picture into the black for NVT. It is an even more irresponsible move by tbe striking unions, based largely on a sentiment and convenience the British economy cannot afford, since they were offered a six-month severance pay package by Mr. Poore and an opportunity to start work for Jaguar motorcars within or at the end of that time at the same plant site. The workers were, apparently, also given first choice at transferring in their same jobs to Smallbeatho The NVT group is in a difficult situation as they are being looked at very hard by other unions and automotive production plants in the British Midl:mds manufacturing district. Other plants, aad the British government, are afraid that a show of fDlce by NVT management will result in all the other related unions labor "coming out" of the plants and seriously crippling the entite economy. The NVT group is stalemated by this unfortunate coincidence of events. .. One of Dennis Poore's most recent ploys was to appeal to public opinion in Britain to "persuade the picket bosses at Meriden either to accept the management's offer to f"mish the work there themselves or get the hell out of it (the plant) and allow others._.to do it." As of deadline, Dr. Felix KaIinsky, head of American operations for the group, indicated that Dennis Poore had resumed negotiations with ti!e striking union proposing to continue production of the Triumph twin at Meriden for another year with an even tual planned phase-out. Like any negotiation, it could fall through but this is the most promising developmen t in the labor-management impasse so far. At the cost of $50,000 a day, it seems like a speedy settlement is in everyone's interest. NVT management are currently optimistic that this solution will be satisfactory to all involved. • 1*1 VEITSHURTS, SI.EEVEJOBS, BU BI.EBEES One 01 ' . is the shirt you want Wheels of Man racing shirts stretch when you stretch, look great and last longer. The Ventshurt is specially-knlt to breathe through air-hungry vents. The 51eevjob features a cool vented body with striped stretch nylon sleeves. 100 per cent stretch nylon makes the Bumble8ee AmerIca's flnest flttlng, toughest racing shirt. Take your pick In bold, bright cycle -colors.. Order now. Get the qUality you need for competition direct from WMels of Man. VENTSHURT - Colors; Green/White, Yellow/ Black, Blue/Gold, or Red/White. Sizes; XS (30-32), S (34-36), M (38-40), L (42-44), XL Burleson zeroes Swamp Fox National Enduro (46-48) AVa-132 $10•• SLEEYJOII - Colors; Yellow (Black, White sleeves), Blue (Gold, White and Blue sleeves), Green (White body with Green, White and Black sleeves). Sizes: S (34-36), M (38-40), L (42-44), XL (46-48) AJIl.l-122 $13.. BUMBLEBEE - Colors; Red (White stripes), Blue (Gold stripes). Yellow (Black stripes), Green (White stripes). Sizes: S (34-36), M (38-40), L (42-44), XL (46-48) ABB-120 $1". CHARLESTON, SC., DEC. 2 The National-title-deciding Swamp Fox Enduro was won by Husky mounted Dick Burleson. Burleson, along with twelve other riders, zeroed the course that participants described as "easy". Tom Penton (Pen) took the run~erup spot while his brother Jack finished third in the 250cc-A class. Bill Kain (Hus) won his second consecutive National Championship title despite a fifth in class fmish. Jack Penton was the only rider who had a chance to catch Kain in the points race but needed an overall win to do so. Officials threw out one check because of a timing area and a secret cbeck used as a tie breaker. Burleson took the win after tabulation showed that he had picked up a two second mark at the secret check compared to runnerup Tom Penton's five second mark. • Tortoise range defined by BLM READ THE BOOK -11'1 lo."d with ....rlc8'. flnut rader acce..arltl. - lor d dirt, for men end women , 'or ...8tner kind of Crellnll "'.t ... The proposed tortoise area northwest of California City, the Saline Mountain Range (Inyo County) and the Darwin Falls area (Inyo County) will be closed to recreation vehicular travel within two weeks according to Lou Boll, Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield District Manager. Crews are signing the areas now. Small signs on five-foot high steel posts will be placed on the perimeter of each area every one-third of a mile and at major roads or trails. These closures are the forst step to implement the recently adopted interim management program for recreation vehicle use on the California Desert. Extensive research has shown the proposed tortoise preserve as outstanding habitat for this species. The Saline Range is one of the last primitive desert valley and mountain association where the impact of modern man is not in evidence. The Darwin Falls area is a rare, beautiful desert canyon with a year-round stream and waterfalls. Although the boundaries of the areas will be signed, effective protection and non-use will depend largely on the cooperation of vehide users. "We have tried to reach a balance between the natural resources and the great demand for recreation use," Boll said, "and we hope people will respect the closures." The area under Boll's jurisdiction. contains 4.5 million acres of BLM administered land in nine different counties. "Obviously, the two rangers we have to enforce the interim program will have their hands full," he said. • Product Number Color Size Price you'... Into. More then. deocrlpllon 01 pro_, "",'11 relld lbout • .,. to protect JOu...." and ho.._ Amount .nclo..d, oIIlppod _old • CODa. Wisconsin residents add 4% . ro- cen lengt".. ,our No ............. You·lI . . . • 11, .h. "4 . "•••• 0' Name ...••.•.•.•.••••••.•••.•... : •••...••• .... ca'.fo. I. a b••• Address ••.••.••.•.•••..••••.••....•.•.•.•• ca'.lo. I. ........ ,.., ....., or City •.....•......... Stll. ....•.•. 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