50 years after the Lucas Plan, workers, activists, students & academics unite in Manchester, 21 Nov 2026, for socially useful production now

50 years ago, workers at the Lucas Aerospace arms company launched their pioneering Alternative Workers Plan. Faced with threats to their jobs, workers at Lucas Aerospace responded with a visionary, positive plan that challenged economic orthodoxy.

They proposed 150 detailed ideas for socially useful products the company could make, such as heat pumps, wind turbines and kidney machines, instead of fighter jet parts.

The Lucas Plan became famous worldwide, sparking other groups of workers to propose their own plans. In Italy today, workers occupying the former GKN auto plant are putting those ideas into practice, making cargo bikes and solar panels.

SOCIALLY USEFUL PRODUCTION NOW!

Brian Salisbury and Phil Asquith, the surviving active members of the Lucas workers’ Combine say:

“We’re inviting you to join us in Manchester, not just to celebrate this anniversary, but to help us build a new movement for socially useful production. That means policies and products that overcome the problems of inequality, poverty, environmental destruction and conflict created by the last 50 years of neoliberalism.

The crises afflicting the world demand a response from all of us, but mainstream politics and the market economy are completely failing to deal with them. So just as in the 1970s, it’s time for ordinary people to take charge. We want to work with social movements and communities to develop a new alternative plan for Britain’s future, for our children and grandchildren.”

Hear Lucas Aerospace Shop Stewards and connect with new generations of workers, activists and communities to plan the economic and social transformation we need.

Climate Jobs Not Bombs!

For a just and green transition

Human-centred technology, not AI-driven automation and deskilling

For more information contact info@breakingtheframe.org.uk

Watch this space for news of the screening of the award-winning documentary, THE PLAN, and a performance of Banner Theatre’s new play about the Lucas Plan in the week before the conference.

Description supplied by the event organiser.