Minimum Road-haulage Wages To Be
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Statutory
LAST Monday it was announced that the Minister of Labour and National Service had accepted the proposals submitted to him by the Road Haulage Central Wages Board in respect of haulage workers employed in connection with Aand B-licensed
vehicles. The Stationery Office will publish an Order to this effect within a day or two, and the new wage scales, which have statutory effect, will come into operation on January 29. Notices containing full particulars will be issued to 50,000 employers concerned about the middle of next week.
A Central Board was set up in February last under Part 1 of the Road Haulage Wages Act, 1938, and there are Area Boards for Scotland and for each of the other Traffic Areas formed under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. , The Central Board has a duty, after consultation with the Area Boards, of fixing minimum wages for road-haulage workers, which, subject to confirmation by the Minister, have statutory force.
It was found impossible to secure general observance by means of voluntary machinery. Therefore, the National Joint Conciliation Board, representing employers and trade unions, approached the Ministry with a request that the machinery should be strengthened by statutory authority. The machinery in question is that recommended by a Departmental Committee under the chairmanship of Sir James Baillie.
The wages structure so framed has been under active discussion in the A18 industry since March of last year. The initial period will be to May 5, 1940, and the rates those agreed between the organizations of employers and workers represented upon the former voluntary board, subject to adjustments in the grading of the rates applicable within certain of the Traffic Areas. Arrangements have been made to cover holidays with pay.
Provisions applying to Scotland in the interim period are set out in a separate part of the Order. The wages for this period correspond, roughly, with Grade 2 rates _for England and Wales, and apply to the whole of the country without distinction. After May 5, 1940, however, Scotland will be included in the general scheme, with the grading as provided in the body of the Order.
After the initial period ending on May 5, whilst no change is provided in wage levels, certain allowances will be made as regards overtime and other surrounding conditions, such as subsistence allowances and payment for night work.
As regards C-licensed vehicles, the Minister proposes to make an Order bringing Part 2 of the Act into opera tion on January 29. This part contains provisions concerning the remu neration of road-haulage workers employed in connection with C-licensed vehicles.
As from the date given, if such a worker's remuneration be considered, unfair, application for settlement under the Act may be made to the Minister of Labour.