Union claims 20 per cent
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increase Strike threat for selected operators • Hauliers in South Wales have been advised by the Transport and General Workers' Union in Cardiff that unless an acceptable wage offer is made on February 25 the union will take selective action. "This means that there will be a series of strikes at the premises of selected operators," said a TGWU official.
At a meeting held last week the employers made what the union describes as a wholly unacceptable offer of a 10 per cent increase, based on 40 mph operation. The TGWU is asking ' that the minimum wage should be £20 per week for drivers in the 1 to 5 ton carrying capacity vehicle range with an additional lOs for each higher category.
The Road Haulage Wages Council agreement has a minimum of £16 10s; the employers' offer would have the effect of raising this to £18 3s. The union claim would amount to a 20 per cent increase on the first four .grades and 19 per cent on the last two grades.
Mr G. Phillips, of TGWU, said a number of wages agreements operated in Wales and the union's request was in line with its national policy. He emphasized that, although similar to the West Midlands Assenting Hauliers' Agreement, the two were unconnected.
Mr Phillips said that the present round of negotiations began last July and that there had been numerous discussions in the inter veiling months. The union was proposinl that the new rates, if settled on February 25 would become operative on March 1.
Mr P. Webb, (he South Wales RH/ secretary, stressed that his Association wa not involved. "Thq employers are represen tatives of the South Wales Road Haulag Industry Joint Council", he said.
Present rates and the rates claimed by th union are set out in the appended table.