CAR WORKERS SPLIT ON 'BAN'.

LONGBRIDGE car workers were today split over a suggestion that employees owning foreign cars should be banned from bringing them to work.

British Leyland's management at the massive Longbridga plant, Birmingham is considering whether to approve a proposal from the joint staffs union co-ordinating committee - representing nearly 5,000 " white collar " workers-seeking to bar foreign cars from the factory complex, Today, reaction to the suggestion from shop floor employees - not affected by the proposals - was surprisingly varied.

Foreman electrician Jim Bottrell who has been at Longbridge for 12 years, said employees who bought foreign cars were not doing justice to their own product.

"I would go along with the idea if it came to us," said Mr. Bottrell, who drives a Leyland 1300, Machinist Ken Devitt agreed. " What's the point in working here if you're going to buy a foreign car, I agree foreign cars should be banned."

But his workmate, driller Dennis Morton felt the choice of car was an individual mutter, "I don't drive, but I think it would be wrong to tell workers what ear they must use. People should be allowed to buy and drive what they like."

Tool maker

And toolmaker Ron Crompton, who drives a Leyland 1800 added: "I would never buy a foreign car while 1 worked here. Anyone who does is helping to push themselves out of a job. But I do believe car ownership should be left to the Individual."

Leading the anti-foreign car campaign is 51-year-old Austen Austin, a senior programme analyst at Long-bridge who said: "It is wrong that shop floor workers on a three day week should have to watch Staff employees arrive in foreign cars, when they arc on short time only because production capacity is greater than sa'es.

He said onyone wanting to spurn Leyland's products should find a job elsewhere.

CAPTION(S):

Mr. Jim Bottrell; Mr. Dennis Morton; Mr. Ken Devitt.; Mr. Ron Cromplon