Marshalls is a leading company in the design,manufacture and maintenance of aerospace and military vehicles. Family owned, it is one of the largest employers in Cambridge employing around 1,700 staff at it’s site, including it’s airport. Unite are the union that organise in the plant and reps there have been supportive of Jerry, since he fought his unfair dismissal by Rolls Royce. I spoke to a Unite member who works at the plant.

So what’s in like working at Marshalls ?

"My workmates have looked out for me. While Marshalls are a privately owned company they do not seem anti-union. We got a 1.5 % pay rise this year which was not bad considering the economic circumstances. However, with the end of the ‘closed shop’ there is no real awareness of the need to join a union particularly amongst the younger workers. There is no union slot at inductions."

What are the issues on the ‘shop floor’?

"The main issue at the moment is with the proposed relocation of the company outside of Cambridge. A housing development of some 12000 houses is proposed for the airport. The move will not just affect the jobs at Marshalls but also the cleaners who service the site, the surrounding shops and so on. There is a rumour mill that is not helped by the lack of communication. The first I heard of it was at a public meeting held by the local LRC group. I am angry at the local Liberal Democrats (who control the City Council) . They’ve shown their true colours by backing up the Tories at County level to help the plans through."

How should the union deal with this issue ?

"If Marshalls are going to leave Cambridge then it needs to be planned properly, The trouble is, in the current economic climate, where are the workers who can’t or don’t want to move with them going to go ? The two other big employers in Cambridge at the University and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. There aren’t going to be enough jobs to go round ! The union are in a difficult position. They don’t want to ‘rock the boat’ but want to keep the support of the shop floor. There needs to be more communication between the shop floor and the reps. The trouble with the national union is that it is run like a business. There needs to be more of a link with the shopfloor."

What do you think of Jerry Hicks’ candidacy for the General Secretary position of Unite ?

"We need a real left candidate in the General Secretary’s position. A grassroots movement is needed within the union movement. It needs to be ‘bottom up’. There needs to be a dose of morality which Jerry seems to represent. If he is prepared to stand for a sense of fair play and make the sacrifice by standing on a workers’ wage then I will be supporting him. I am prepared to get involved in the campaign to get Jerry elected."

Thanks for your time. We are supporting Jerry and will be doing what we can to support the campaign.

"No problem, anytime."