R.H.E. to Set Up 'Staff
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Complete Machinery for Negotiation Down to Local Level
THKEE. National Joint Negotiating Committees will be set up under an agreement dated July 28., which has been signed between the Road Haulage Executive and the trade unions representing its staff. A National Staff Council will be set up by October 1.
One of the negotiating committees will be for the operating and ancillary grades, another for the maintenance and repair grades,. and the third for the administrative, professional, 'technical, .supervisory and clerical grades. Divisional joint committees are to be set up for each of -the Divisions of the Executive by January 1 next. Within six months of that date, local joint committees . most be established for such areas or spheres of Operation as may be defined as appropriate by the divisional joint committees.
Close M the Men "It is the intention," says the R.H.F.., " that these local committees shall function as near to the men on the job as possible." The objects of the agreement are to promote the best possible relations and to secure the utmost measure of agreement between the Executive and the unions.
The functions of the national joint negotiating committees will be to settle, by negotiation, the terms and conditions of employment of staff with basic rates or salary scales up to and including MO a year.
The agreement provides that if the national staff council or any of the national committees are unable to determine any matter falling within the scope of their functions, they shall, at the request of a majority of either the Executive representatives or the union representatives, refer the difference for con—sideration by the Industrial Court or by any other agreed tribunal for arbitration. Any decision made in relation to the difference shall be binding upon the Executive and the unions and the members of the unions.
No Unofficial Strikes It is also provided that there shall be no lock-out or withdrawal of labour, or interference with thg workings of the Executive until the machinery of the agreement has been fully utilized. The agreement was signed on behalf of the R.H.E. by Major General G. N. Russell, chairman of the Executive, Mr. Harold Clay, member of the Executive. and Mr. S. E. Raymond, chief staff and welfare officer, and by the following on behalf of the unions stated:— Amalgamated Engineering Union, Mr. Jack Tanner and Mr. Ben Gardner; Electrical Trades Union, Mr. Frank 'Foulkes and Mr. W. Z. Stevens; National Union of Vehicle Builders, Mr. H. Halliwell and Mr. J. C. Hamilton; Railway Clerks' Association, Mr. Percy Morris and Mr. P. T. Heady; Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association, Mr. John Rrannigan; Transport
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