• The Trades Union Congress could make a decision this
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week on whether 300 drivers at Ford's Dagenham plant had the right to transfer from the Transport & General Workers Union to the United Road Transport Union.
The long-running dispute initially started over alleged racism when seven black Ford workers said they were kept out of better paid driving jobs.
Drivers at the Dagenham plant, unhappy about the way the situation was handled, dissolved their TGWU branch and transferred to the URTU at the end of January. URTU manager Mike Billingharn says: "At the end of the day we will have to abide by the TUC law—we will have to see whether they will endorse the right to belong to a Union of your choice."
The TUC could rule either way, Biltingham admits. The TUC confirmed that it would be chairing the disputes meeting but said a decision may not be made on the day.