T&G gettin! tougher
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• The Transport and General Workers' Union has threatened to expel six of its members who have crossed print union picket lines on TNT's controversial News International distribution contract.
Last week the TGWU's northern region recommended the expulsion of the six drivers, who, the union says, have persistently crossed picket lines at a distribution centre for News International's newspapers at Kinning Park, Glasgow.
The union said that it would take disciplinary action against any driver ignoring picket line instructions when TNT first took over the distribution of the Sun, Times, Sunday Times and News of the World in January. But this is the first time that it has done so.
Other regional committees are also looking into the case for recommending expulsions of TNT employees in their areas. The South Wales region says it has identified around 18 drivers working from the Llantrisant, MidGlamorgan, depot who are working full-time on the newspaper work. Investigations are still in the early stages.
However, expulsions cannot go ahead without the agreement of the TGWU's general executive meeting in September, and then the drivers can still appeal.
TNT is watching the developments. Its new UK general manager, Bill Hanley (see p17), said: "We hope that we will get more sober decisions from the union's general executive."
He also warned that it was possible that TNT would take legal action if the union goes ahead.
lithe problems escalate this far, the good working relationship which TNT has shared with the TGWU and its closed shop — and which both parties pride themselves on — could be jeopardised.
Meanwhile the two print unions, Sogat 82 and the NGA, have undertaken in the High Court to instruct their members not to attack TNT depots or employees.
This is an interim agreement until the main October hearing when TNT applies for an injunction to prevent attacks on depots.
The NGA may still have up to six pickets at depots for "peacefully obtaining or communicating information", and Sogat members can only picket at depots if its national executive has organised it — and warned TNT.
I1] Official union protests against September's changes in drivers' hours legislation will have little effect on rank and file Transport and General Workers' Union members, according to the Road Haulage Association.
TGWU national secretary Jack Aswell says that from September 1 until 31, drivers are being called on to operate a protest 541unihr (40mph) goslow.
At the same time the TGWU says that employers should retain the existing driv
ers' hours provisions and that members could go on strike ii employers refuse.
-There is a growing groundswell as drivers realise the changes which will happen," Ashwell said. Members who drive less than four and a half hours will have to negotiate a meal break, he added.
However, the RHA believes that there is no "great weight of evidence" that drivers are strongly against the new hours regulations.
"We haven't had reports from our members that the whole world is going to be turned upside-down on September 29 (the introduction 01 the new rules)", RHA industrial relations secretary John Cox told CM,