Lucas Aerospace Plan

The Lucas Aerospace Plan was a proposal in 1976 by aerospace factory workers to redirect their efforts into producing medical, transport and green energy technology.

History

Background

Military Matters Lucas Aerospace was one of Europe's largest designers and manufacturers of aircraft systems and equipment in the early 1970s. It had over 18,000 workers on its payroll, spread over 15 factories throughout Britain. Nearly half of its income came from building things for the military, such as combat aircraft and missiles. The British government pushed the company to restructure by firing 20% of its workers in exchange for access to military markets with very high profit rates.

The workers soon found out about this, and combined with already low wages led to a great deal of anger. A strike in 1972 led to an increase in wages by 167% and several strategies work stoppages gave the workers a great deal of power. The workers then proposed a new plan after two years of debate among themselves, based on detailed information on the machinery and equipment that all Lucas sites had, as well as the type of skills that were in the company. The aim of the plan was to produce new things without losing jobs.

Key Points

Some of the key proposals of the plan include:

• Introduction of democracy in factories and guaranteed employment for workers
• Production of kidney dialysis of machines
• Begin research and production of artificial limb control systems for amputees
• Production of sight aids for the blind using the technology in aircraft radio systems
• Development of the 'Hobcart' to give mobility to paralysed people
• Produce an improved life support system for ambulances, a prototype was developed using a simple heat exchanger and pumping system
• Development of heat pumps in houses to reduce energy consumption
• Production of windmills to generate electricity without fossil fuels
• Development of a 'flexible power pack' which could generate electricity renewably on a small scale, for use in poor countries
• Creation of a light-weight vehicle with pneumatic tires that would travel on rails and roads if needed. The vehcile would be powered by a combination of an internal combustion engine and battery it would use 50% less fuel and reduce unhealthy pollution from the car. This system would be safer, more efficient and cheaper.
• Production of undersea exploration technology
• Production of robotic devices and remote control technology
• Production of improved braking systems for vehicles