from a special correspondent * . e *
" J. S. Fry and Sons of Bristol has been forced by the T.G.W.U. to erica a productivity deal and "over-man" a major department by 25 per cen an The decision came last week after members of the Transport and Genera Workers Union refused to continue working substantially reduced meigegy if scales which had been in operation since ssc ie “Sevehker I
refused to roductivity increases due from ° Tadopsaie Po the ee of workers to each machine in the department was reduced from four to three and the "redundant" 25 per cent of the work force were employed elsewhere. Productivity payments of 3d=4d an sy Pt made to the remaining workers. They were promised further increases 0 at least 14d an hour when the scheme was running smoothly. These latter increases were stopped because of the freeze. Mr. Bob Davis, a 1T.G.W.U. national secretary, said: "The company told us the scheme had gone well and our members were fully entitled to the further payments. But they could not pay them. As a result our members themselves called the deal off and insisted on returning to the old manning scales," For the company, the situation is now worse than it was before April 1. For although Frys is working four men to a machine again, the initial productivity increases of 3d-4d an hour are still being paid. A company spokesman said yesterday the deal had been called off with the agreement of the union. It was hoped to reintroduce it as soon as the freeze was over.