Prof. Duma, left, and Mr. Asquith talk over the Lucas Plan.
A visiting American professor came to Burnley this week to put new emphasis on a plan to conserve jobs in the town. Professor Lloyd Duma has been a leading protagonist for job-saving legislation now before the U.S. Senate. His visit to the area is a calculated attempt to spotlight the corporate plan of the Lucas Joint Shop Stewards’ Committee aimed at providing alternative projects outside the defence sphere. The plan, produced in 1978, suggests projects which might be undertaken by the Lucas group to safeguard jobs in the event of defence cuts. It also puts the emphasis on socially useful alternatives. The plan was rejected by Lucas shortly after its publication. But Prof. Duma, who used the Lucas plan as evidence for the U.S. Bill, believes the plan could betaken up in the wake of American legislation and possible pressure on the Government by British MPs. Mr. Duma is staying at Lydgate, Burnley, home of Mr. Phil Asquith, secretary of the Lucas joint shop stewards’ committee. He is seeking meetings with union leaders nationally and locally and with key members of the Government and Opposition. Said Prof. Duma, “In some senses, the Lucas plan was a blueprint of what might be achieved by management, union and Government co-operation. It is very important that Government should have provision for re-employment if the arms race slows down and defence budgets are cut, which would threaten huge numbers of jobs in certain areas.”
Professor Duma is associate professor of political economy at the University of Texas. The US-Burnley connection came about when Mr. Asquith visited Washington to discuss the Lucas Corporate Plan with leading American trade unionists. Mr. Asquith said, “The American Bill seeks to ensure that companies who fulfil defence contracts also have projects they can turn to, if they lose those contracts“. A spokesman for Lucas said the plan was rejected in 1976 because it was felt suggested projects lay beyond the experience of the company. “We were, and are, a successful company and know best about the products we have manufactured for some time.” It was unlikely the plan would be re-considered. Lucas had a full order book and was concerned with re-equipment of civil airlines as well as military orders. “At present we need all the staff we can get to move the stuff through the door.”