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Title: The Alternative Plan Author: Workers Solidarity Movement Date: 1988 Language: en Topics: workplace struggles, Workers Solidarity Source: Retrieved on 9th October 2021 from http://struggle.ws/ws88_89/ws29_lucas_plan.html Notes: Published in Workers Solidarity No. 29 â Autumn 1988.
What was the alternative Lucas Corporate Plan? Over a period of two
years a series of proposals that later became known as the Lucas Plan
were drawn together through the active involvement of most of the
workers in the 15 different Lucas factories. Its aim was to shift Lucas
Aerospace, as a company away from the production of military goods,
mainly for NATO (an emphasis that was capital intensive and had high
profit margins for Lucasâs owners) and towards the production of
socially useful goods (which was a labour intensive field, relying more
on the skills already in the Lucas Company). Such a shift would mean the
preservation of jobs at Lucas and the fulfilment of some of the more
pressing needs of society. Here is what was proposed:
The proposals were:
development of a portable model.
Health, to look into things like artificial limb control systems (which
could use Lucasâ control engineering expertise), sight aids for the
blind, developing the âHobcartâ. This vehicle was designed in the 1970s
by an apprentice at Lucas to give mobility to children suffering from
Spina Bifida. Lucas management had refused to develop it on the grounds
that it was incompatible with their product range.
ex-Lucas engineer turned doctor had offered to help design and build a
prototype for this, using a simple heat exchanger and pumping system.
Due to the finite availability of fuels like coal and petrol, they
proposed that Lucas concentrate on renewable sources of energy
generation and developing more efficient methods of energy conservation
from fuel sources. Up to 60% of energy is lost with traditional forms of
its use (car engines etc.). Moreover this would provide a real
alternative to nuclear power generation which was unsafe and damaging to
the environment.
saving waste heat. Such heat pumps would be used in new housing schemes
to provide a very cheap service.
invaluable.
peopleâs situations allowing for small scale electricity generation
using basic raw materials. Such instruments would be invaluable in
under-developed countries where electricity provision is very poor.
would be light-weight using pneumatic tyres on rails. Such a system
would be cheaper, safer for use and more integrated. It would allow rail
services to be provided in areas where they were being closed down, etc.
The road-rail vehicle would be able to travel on rails mainly but also
convert to road use when needed.
give up to 50% fuel savings while reducing toxic emission from cars.
The Plan proposed various other ideas in the areas of braking systems,
undersea exploration technology and remote control devices,
The thrust of the Lucas Plan was radical from the beginning. It asked
basic questions like what was the real use of Sting-Ray missiles and
high technology fighter aeroplanes to society. Their production gobbled
up money resources and technical inventiveness, making those who owned
the Companies richer and richer but society got nothing from them.
Basic needs in society are only filled inadequately, like for instance
kidney machines, whose general shortage in society was then and still is
a crying shame. Lucas, its workers argued, had the expertise to develop
better, smaller and more mobile units which kidney sufferers were crying
out for. Why shouldnât they do so?
Worse still, under a system that produces high quantities of weapons and
armaments, not only is money wasted but also much human technology and
innovation is wasted or mix-used as well. Take the proposal by the Lucas
workers that the sophisticated radar systems used in modern fighter
planes be used in the development of an âalternative sightâ aid for
blind people. Such a thing is easily within human capabilities, but is
not made or even developed as a priority now.
Under Capitalism the worldâs resources and wealth is owned and used to
make profit for the wealthy, Most money is invested where profit is
highest. The fulfilment of human needs is always a secondary priority
The Lucas Plan challenged many of the basic assumptions of Capitalism:
why should profits come before people? What value have military goods in
a world with so many other pressing needs? As such it was important. But
far more fundamentally it showed what capacity workers have to
articulate their priorities and their values,
For the future it showed what enormous potential a society based on
socialism could have. Such a society with real workplace democracy and
the participation of all in the management of society would allow for
the creative capacity of each individual to have its say while the real
needs of society are met. But for this to be achieved as the Lucas
workers learned, Capitalism and its priorities must be overthrown .