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"Conciliation Machinery a Failure"

18th September 1936
Page 37
Page 37, 18th September 1936 — "Conciliation Machinery a Failure"
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Keywords : Labor

THE National Joint Conciliation Board's Machinery has proved a failure and the employers' panel should be reconstituted " on democratic lines." The only alternative to this action is the setting up of a trade board for the goods side of the road-transport industry, under the Trade Boards Act. A resolution on these lines was unanimously adopted at the national conference of road-transport employers in Sheffield on Saturday last.

The conference also set up a national co-ordinating sub-committee to complete the preparation of the case which it is proposed to present on behalf of road-transport employers before the Government committee of inquiry, recently established to examine the position concerning the regulation of wages and conditions of service of employees on the goods side of the industry.

Another decision of the conference was to make a protest to the trade unions concerned, 'with reference to allegations of "certain activities " in relation to individual firms.

• • • Big Gathering. • •

The Commercial "Motor. Yorkshire correspondent was inforined that the conference, convened by the standing joint committee of employers in the Nofthern,. North-Western . and Yorkshire Traffic Areas, was attended by proininent representatives from nearly every Traffic Area in England and Wales. Councillor Charles Holdsworth, of Halifax; chairman of the Yorkshire Area joint Conciliation Board and of the employers' panel of that body, presided over the conference.

He was supported by Mr. Roger Sewn', national director of Associated Road Operators; Mr. Anthony Todd (Durham), chairman of the haulage board of A.R.O., also representing the Northern Area; Mr. Robert Barr (Leeds), chairman of A.R.O., • Yorkshire Area; Mr. W. W. Walton (Stockton-on-Tees), chairman of A.R.O., Northern Area; Mr. Fred Pickering, secretary of Bradford and District Commercial Vehicle Owners Federation and of .Bradford Chamber of Trade (which •

has a transport section); Mr. George E. Gilbey (Wakefield), ex-chairman of the North-Eastern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association; and Messrs. H. Burrill, Farnworth, Howarth, Grindrod and other delegates from the North-Western Area.

The resolution -stated:— " That this conference of employers in the road-transport industry (goods) is satisfied that, after two years of experience in dealing with the wages and general working conditfons problem, the NatiOnal Joint Conciliation Board's conciliation machinery has proved a failure.

'The fact that the Government has recently appointed a Committee of Inquiry is conclusive evidence of this failure, the chief reasons for which are: (1) The National Board's decisions were based upon evidence which was incomplete. (2) The employers' representatives on the National Board are not fully representative of the road-transport in dustry (goOds). (3) The spirit of conciliation has been conspicuous by its absence.

" For these reasons,: we demand the reconstitution of the employers' panel of the National Board forthwith, on democratic lines, so that each Traffic Area can be represented by two elected members in the roadtransport industry (goods) who reside in the Area.

" Failing the reconstitution of the employers' panel on these lines, this conference can see no alternative but the setting up of a Trade Board," After passing this resolution, which it decided to send to the Ministers of Transport and Labour, and the employers' secretary of the National Board, the conference proceeded to consider the question of co-ordinated policy and action in the presentation of submissions and evidence concerning wages and working conditions before the Government committee of inquiry. ..Following a lengthy discussion, complete agreement was arrived at as to the measures to be adopted. It was decided that the national co-ordinating sub-committee previously mentioned should comprise 15 members, including representatives of each,Traffic Area in England and Wales, and the names of 15 representatives proposed for the sube.ommittee were approved.

Important Meeting Shortly.

For the purpose of considering the recommendations which the sub-committee will make, it was decided to hold a further national conference at 10 a.m. on September 30, in London.

Discussion on trade-union activities arose on complaints as to the tone of certain letters said to have been sent by trade unions, presenting demands to individual employers. After the letters had been read and considered, a resolution was passed demanding that these tactics should cease immediately.


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