Collection

Papers of Mr David Edwards from his work as a Rootes AEU shop steward: shop stewards' minutes, 1964-86; joint shop stewards' minutes, 1960-84; papers re pay and productivity, etc., 1968-84; Humber Joint Production Consultative and Advisory Committee minutes, 1949; Chrysler Combine minutes, 1976-8 (incomplete); various joint Chrysler / shop steward committee minutes, 1976-9; minutes of meetings re Stoke Plant Pay and Productivity Agreement, 1971; minutes of meetings with European trades unionists, 1979-80; subject files incl. pay and productivity, participation; agreements, 1967-87. Papers of Mrs Tamar Edwards as a TGWU shop steward at Massey Ferguson: minutes and case files for Massey Ferguson, joint meetings of trade union representatives.

17 boxes

The records reflect two changes of ownership and management style, a period of severe industrial relations problems, made more difficult by external economic and trading conditions, and the closure of the Linwood plant, 1981. Reference: S. Young & N. Hood, Chrysler UK. A corporation in transition. New York, 1977; J. Wood, Wheels of misfortune. The rise and fall of the British motor industry. London, 1988; J. Bullock, The Rootes brothers : story of a motoring empire. 1993.

This collection has been weeded for duplicates.

Open

Coventry City Record Office has a significant deposit of Rootes records (Acc. 1690). The Museum of British Road Transport, Coventry holds Rootes Group commercial and technical material.

English