Workshop conditions were not for me

BACK in the 1970s, inflation was soaring, and with it came a significant rise in the cost of living!

As a young married family man, it became increasingly hard to finance a mortgage on our new home, described by my dad as a mill stone around my neck.

Fortunately, I was in a job that did not have to rely on such representation as My Lynch is giving to the RMT union activists.

Having previously experienced a union-led workplace; you might say I was anti-union.

Not so, albeit experiencing the workplace power they had.

After serving 27 months with the Army in the Eastern Mediterranean, as an electrical tech, working primarily on vehicles and plant was directed toward an interview with the OC-38 Base Wksps REME, situated then at Chilwell.

Obliged during my interview to confirm: I would join the Electrical Trades Union, if offered the job!

This I did reluctantly, after first gaining a muted response, with the OC -REME Wksps. My term of engagement soon came to an end, after fully realising workshop conditions were not for me!

Freedom from such restrictions, I was head-hunted by a multi national company, selling confectionary to the retail sector.

After becoming the youngest area manager, I was confronted by another union official, belonging as he did To USDAW, threatening to blacklist any of my sales force from servicing the retail outlets that came within his remit, unless of course my sales force became union members!

This was based on an understanding, that an arranged meeting with the aforesaid group, and their final decision, would be fully acceptable by both sides.

A subsequent vote eliminated any doubt as to the future servicing arrangements.

Councillor John M Parr Representing Plains Ward Gedling Borough Council