1 - Approach to class analysis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2012
Summary
In 1973 there was a long strike at the Ford car-assembly plant at Broadmeadows near Melbourne. During the late 1960s and early 1970s Ford Australia, a subsidiary of the American multinational, had expanded rapidly with a strategy of producing large, flashy, fast saloons, which turned out to be immensely popular. In early 1973 it was on the point of displacing General Motors-Holden from its leading position in the Australian car market. At the same time the motor industry unions, spurred by a rising rate of inflation, were about to launch a campaign for increased over-award payments to employees, one of the more flexible parts of the wage structure. They intended to put pressure first on GMH, as the company in the most vulnerable position.
But the Ford workers took the issue away from their officials. At a mass meeting on 18 May, where union officials were explaining their tactics, they insisted that demands be more actively pressed on Ford, and stopped work. After some weeks' strike the Ford management offered a modest wage rise, and at a mass meeting of workers on 11 June a vote was taken to return to work. But the vote was close; many of the workers did not speak English and had not understood what was being voted on; there remained bitter opposition to a return without more concessions from the company. On 13 June, the day scheduled, some went back to work but others, perhaps 2000 strong, gathered outside the plant to picket it.
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- Information
- Ruling Class, Ruling Culture , pp. 1 - 7Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1977