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Knowles transport boss: Drivers can't keep mum
Page 7
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.4. by Chris Tindall
Haulage is a cloak-and-dagger industry and drivers can not be trusted to withhold commercially-sensitive information, a transport manager for an award-winning firm sensationally told an employment Tribunal this week.
Former haulier of the year. Cambridgeshire-based Knowles Transport, appeared before chairman Christopher Ash to answer allegations that it unlawfully deducted wages and refused to provide evidence to drivers explaining how rates were calculated.
Transport manager John Barlow also refuted claims by the three drivers bringing the case that they had ever complained to him about the way in which they were paid. Wages were calculated on a 'notional' basis, which was an average of the gross figure for different journeys. However, this formula was never explained to employees.
Drivers Kevin Parkin and John Williams added that they had only been told about this notional system when the case was originally brought before the Tribunal (CMS-14 May).
"Whenever I complained about my wages, Mr Barlow fobbed me off by telling me to go and see the girls in the [wages1 office—but they would only show me the timesheets," explained Parkin.
For Parkin and Williams, Richard O'Sullivan asked haw any driver would know rates were calculated on this basis when there was an absence of documentation. Barlow responded: "They must have had a good idea because they say in their statement they were receiving within five pounds of what they were expecting," The chairman said the Tribunal was clear there was nothing notional about the rate, which was calculated in secret. Drivers had to take it on trust they were being paid properly. He added that it was satisfied that the drivers' claim, in principle, succeeded.
Ile set a date for a later hearing and warned that unless some disclosure was forthcoming, there would be no confidentiality at the next hearing. Knowles has offered to provide further information to the Tribunal via an accountant.