ABSTRACT
In November, 1979 Derek Robinson, a leading shop steward in the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers at British Leyland's Longbridge factory in Birmingham, was dismissed. Sir Michael Edwardes, the company's Chief Executive, authorised the sacking on the grounds that Robinson had attempted to organize opposition to Edwardes' 'recovery plan' for BL and because he had kept Longbridge in ferment and upheaval for 30 months. In a television interview, Edwardes stated that under Robinson's stewardship there had been 523 industrial disputes at Longbridge involving 'the loss of 62,000 cars and 113,000 engines, worth £200 million' (Edwardes, 1983, 109). A further important factor in the dismissal was Edwardes' perception of the motives behind Robinson's actions. Robinson was known to be a member of the Communist Party and his attempt to organise opposition to the programme of change at BL was seen by Edwardes as reflecting what he described as the Communist Party's aim 'to replace the existing structure of society by every means at its disposal and with a number of our shop stewards as their willing instruments' (ibid).
