Cut out the interference!
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IRING Road Haulage 'dation chairman Jack ! has slammed Governt interference in road 3ge and "intimidation of ed transgressors."
eaking at the RHA annual er in London on Tuesday, ;aid: "The burden of Government and related participation in the affairs of this industry has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished."
He added: "We are entitled to demand that interference will be limited solely to ensuring that, in responsibly carrying out its indispensable. tasks, the road transport industry does not jeopardise other sectors of the economy, or impose unnecessary discomfort or inconvenience upon the public, or inflict avoidable damage on the environment." Referring to pay agreements in his home area of the West Midlands, Mr Male said that "we have now moved into the realm of black lists — the imposition of oppressive and wholly unreasonable contract clauses and solemn undertakings to behave ourselves for the foreseeable future."
He accused the Government of indulging in "Government by intimidation," and he asked how long it would be before the tactic was used to enforce less acceptable policies than the anti-inflation campaign.
"Might we one day be required to certify that we have not contributed to some political party's funds, that we have instituted a post entry , closed shop, or that we and all our sub-contractors voted at the last election for a particular party and will do so in the future?" asked Mr Male.
He suggested that employers would be wise to consider making their acceptance of any further round of pay restraint dependent on acceptance by the whole trade union movement of the restraint. This would remove the shadow of Government sanctions for non-compliance.
Mr Male asked the industry to return to "reason and cooperation" so that extravagant wage claims could be avoided, and that hauliers should deal fairly with one another.
And he appealed to the trade unions to look again at the tachograph and adopt a more rational policy "for their own benefit and that of the industry as a whole."
CORY Distribution has won a five-year contract to distribute non-perishable groceries and wine to 40 supermarkets belonging to the Cater chain, part of the Debenham company.
The contract is worth El million a year in extra revenue to the company and Cory has acquired 18 vehicles, mostly 28 ton gvw Ford D series, plus a 60,000 sqft distribution depot at Radlett, Herts to run the contract.