The Lucas Plan

The Lucas Plan was offered in the late '70s by the Shop Steward Combine Committee of Lucas Aerospace, a firm that focused in military production for NATO in Britain. Workers at the 15 different Lucas factories were involved in drafting this plan for shifting production away from military goods and towards socially useful goods.

The suggested changes included the following:

Medical Equipment:

- Increase production of kidney dialysis machines by 40% and look into the development of a portable model.
- Build up a 'design for the disabled' unit, with the Ministry of Health, to look into things like artificial limb control systems (which could use Lucas's control engineering expertise), sight aids for the blind, developing the 'Hobcart'. 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.
- Manufacture an improved life-support system for ambulances. An ex-Lucas engineer turned doctor had offered to help design and build a prototype for this, using a simple heat exchanger and pumping system.
Alternative Energy Techniques:
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.
- Development and production of heat pumps which were efficient in saving waste heat. Such heat pumps would be used in new housing schemes to provide a very cheap service.
- Development and production of solar cells and fuel cells.
- Development of windmills. Lucas's experience in aerodynamics would be invaluable.
- Development of a flexible power pack, which could easily adjust to people's 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.

Transportation:
- The development of a road-rail public transportation vehicle which 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.
- A combined internal combustion engine/battery powered car which could give up to 50% fuel savings while reducing toxic emission from cars.

Notice that last one? That's right, they wanted to stop building warplanes and start building hybrid cars.

Now here's the important thing: these folks spent two years drafting a democratic redevelopment plan for their firm. Much of American manufacturing is geared towards military production, and so long as it is, we will always have an excessive military-industrial complex.

Currently there is a major push for converting American production to ecological technology, potentially spurring a renaissance in American manufacturing. We should use this opportunity to divorce the American economy from war production cycles.

Let us encourage a repetition of the Lucas plan in the states, and get our ailing manufacuring firms to reconceive their mission and possibilities.

Let this become a demand of democratic unions to rally progressives across America- remake yourselves! We want to help you, tell us how!