Strike over union's role
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• Hundreds of Castle Cement drivers went on strike for 24 hours last Wednesday (9 September) to protest at company plans to negotiate a national pay deal without involving the Transport & General Workers Union. The company wants to abolish a series of TGWU negotiated local pay deals and negotiate a national deal direct with the drivers.
Castle's logistics director Jonathan Dale blames the local deals for what he describes as outmoded, inefficient and inflexible working practices. He is particularly keen to end radial deliveries which entail empty return runs.
Dale says the company is offering a basic of £15,000 with a performance-related element of miles driven and tonnes carried. He believes most drivers would be able to earn another £5,000 under this system.
"We can't afford to wait much longer to implement these efficiencies or we may be forced out of business," he says. 'Life is difficult enough in the construction business already — if we don't move into the 21st century we will die."
TGWU national secretary Len McClusky says the company has de-recognised the union and refused to meet union negotiators at a national level. This has hardened the resolve of the drivers, who are 96% in favour of strike action. McClusky says that more than 1,000 Castle Cements's process and craft employees, who produce the cement, have pledged their support. He predicts that the strikes will escalate.