Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
I was employed at Massey Ferguson for just over 22 years. It was only a mild surprise when the company decided to make me redundant in 1992. They had been having annual culls for more than 10 years, aided by the Union bashing regime of a certain M. Thatcher. It was ironic that the year previous to 1992 I was, along with many other clerical staff taken out of the union membership and given 'professional staff' status. (This was as the company explained to create greater job security). The years spent there were mostly enjoyable apart from the posturing of a few individuals, who will be nameless for now, in positions of authority who were trying to control people who in many respects were their superiors.
Massey Ferguson made tractors mostly for export(they priced themselves out of the UK market) but the larger and more advanced models were manufactured in France. The Unions in France were a lot stronger so it was inevitable that when the market shrunk and decisions about closures were to be made the company chose the easy option and closed the manufacturing plant at Banner Lane. This is now being turned into a housing estate. The company have retained a token 'European headquarters' office at Stoneleigh outside Coventry. There are other tales to tell about MF at a later date.
Massey Ferguson made tractors mostly for export(they priced themselves out of the UK market) but the larger and more advanced models were manufactured in France. The Unions in France were a lot stronger so it was inevitable that when the market shrunk and decisions about closures were to be made the company chose the easy option and closed the manufacturing plant at Banner Lane. This is now being turned into a housing estate. The company have retained a token 'European headquarters' office at Stoneleigh outside Coventry. There are other tales to tell about MF at a later date.
No comments:
Post a Comment