A general view of those attending the meeting for shop stewards.

In a rallying call to shop stewards at local factories involved in the RB 211 project, Mr Dan Jones, MP for Burnley, urged them to "stand firm" and uphold confidence until the fate of the engine is known. Speaking at a special meeting in the Irish Democratic League, Burnley, Mr Jones spoke of indications of a mood of despair in this area brought about by the Rolls-Royce crisis. Pledging his confidence in the RB 211, Mr Jones said his faith in the project was based on the fact that the engine contained features which were in demand, and one of these features was the de-escalation of noise. He said: "There is no engine like it in the world and the Lockhead Tri-Star will not fly without it. There are 120 options for the Tri-Star and there is the knowledge that the RB 211 will last for a minimum of 20 years".

Mr. A. F. Robinson, chairman of the meeting and district officer of the AEF, refuted criticisms made that the district committee had been "inactive" at the time of crisis. They had got the local trades council and Labour party allied to the situation and got the North-East Lancashire Development Committee to call a special meeting. Referring to the difficulty in contacting members of small firms involved in work for Rolls-Royce, and the surprising number involved, he criticised local management. He said there would be a special district committee meeting next Wednesday to discuss the situation and the possibility of planning some outward demonstration of their feelings.
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