Snow-removals Rates Dispute Drags On
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T'IIAT the rates asked for by the 1 operators are lower than comparable hourly rates laid down, in the Government haulage scheme is stressed in a resolution adopted at a meeting of Leeds hauliers, last week, with reference to the protracted dispute concerning the basis of payment by Leeds Cleansing Department for the hire of motor vehicles to remove snow from the streets.
As we have previously reported, this dispute between the cleansing department and Leeds Municipal Vehicle Operators, an organization formed by vehicle owners doing municipal haulage in the city, follows one which arose between the same parties concerning snow-clearance rates last winter. Th6 L.M.V.O. has asked for an increase on the rates which were settled for last winter and for the introduction of certain working conditions affecting vehicles' earnings, but the Cleansing Committee has declined to vary its decision of September last.
A letter from the corporation indicating that the cleansing committee had again considered the matter and had reaffirmed its attitude was submitted at
last week's meeting of Leeds Municipal Vehicle Operators. Operators again complained that the cleansing committee had ignored what were held to be responsible proposals, and it was stressed that the municipalities of Sheffield, Barnsley, Halifax, Huddersfield, Nottingham and Leicester were already paying rates higher than those sought.
Mr. Harry Clark, chairman of the organization, said the latter point was the foundation of the Leeds operators' case, for it could not be argued that the officials of those other towns were less vigilant custodians of the public purse than the Leeds Corporation officials.
In deciding to reaffirm the rejection of the rates offered by the cleansing department, and adherence to the rates and conditions which the L.M.V.O. submitted to the department in October last, the meeting was encouraged by, Mr. Clark's statement that a number of C-licence holders who had previously sent vehicles on snow-removal work in Leeds regardless of the rates paid had definitely decided not to supply vehicles in future unless the L.M.V.O. rates and conditions be observed.