NEARLY 1400 Scots workers gave Minister of State Dr J. Dickson Mabon a hot reception as he spelled out to them two courses of action – a calamitous Flodden or a succesful Bannockburn.
Mr Mabon was speaing to the workers at the Dalmuir plant of Babcock and Wilcox which was to be phased out early in 1970 with the loss of nearly 700 jobs.
The minister, who made it clear he was going to say his piece whether the men liked it or not, said that Babcock and Wilcox would carry out their plan not matter what.
The Flodden course would have acrimony, dispute and bad press and it was not “just Glasgow which is watching this, the whole of Britain is looking on – with the result that no outside buyers would come into the plant”.
The successful Bannockburn course was to co-operate in a phased withdrawal, backed by the knowledge that the Government would do all in its power to attract a buyer.
By the looks on these faces, the workers would take some convicing he was recommending the best option for them.
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