Belfast Shipyard Occupation:Check out the Lucas Plan. "For environmentally sustainable production".

Belfast shipyard workers occupy to save jobs. 

By John Throne.

Facts For Working People (FFWP):Support for - and a suggestion for Harland and Wolff occupation. 

Facts For Working People (FFWP) sends support  to the Harland and Wolff shipyard workers in Belfast Northern Ireland who are occupying the yard to demand nationalization and to save their jobs. 

FFWP would like to raise the possibility of the occupation raising not just nationalization to save jobs but to raise turning the yard into a centre for research and development and production of "socially useful and environmentally sustainable alternatives". This is in quotes because it is from a document about what is known as the Lucas Plan. 

A recent publication advertising a new film on the Lucas Plan explained what happened this way: "40 years ago a group of skilled engineers, at Lucas Aerospace when threatened with redundancy responded with an ambitious plan to make better use of their talents. Designing what they called socially useful and environmentally sustainable alternatives to the military products their company made". Tony Benn at the time had this to say about the plan "One of the most remarkable exercises that's ever occurred in British industrial history". The workers marched behind banners which said" "No to arms production for socially useful work!" here is the video:

In a way these workers were ahead of their time. But now with climate change threatening life on earth this is no longer the case. FFWP would like to suggest that the Belfast shipyard workers struggle to save jobs should be linked to the rising environmental and climate change movements. 

FFWP would like to suggest that the occupation demand for a nationalized yard should be accompanied with the demand for a major investment in order to retool the yard so it can produce socially useful and environmentally sustainable products. And that this new yard be run under workers control and management.  The recent movements worldwide and the recent European elections show that there is a rising tide of struggle on the environment. The Belfast shipyard workers if they develop their struggle to include changing production to produce environmentally sustainable products can play a central role in and get support the support of these movements. 

Those interested can get more information by googling Lucas Plan. FFWP has acontact addresses for the Lucas struggle. Try sending an e mail to:  plandocumentary@gmail.com

There is a flyer that explains that they have two films about the Lucas Workers plan and struggle which are available to be shown at workers and environmental actions. Perhaps these could be shown in Belfast to highlight the workers struggle.  FFWP  published an article on the occupation here.  There are many articles available if the Lucas Plan is googled. If anybody can provide the information how to get in touch with those who have produced these films or if there is a body still fighting to preserve the tradition of the Lucas Plan and fight please make this information available. 

John Throne. Facts For Working People.