A One action vote
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by Juliet Parish • About 200 drivers at A One Transport are set to vote on whether to take industrial action, after conciliatory body ACAS failed to settle months of unsuccessful pay talks.
A ballot is the most likely of two lines of attack the drivers' unions are considering taking, unless the Leeds-based haulier agrees to give them a minimum "nostrings-attached" L4-an-hour—an increase of around 17p an hour.
However, they have not ruled out taking the case back to ACAS for a binding agree ment, says Transport & General Workers Union regional officer Maurice Britton.
He says the 250-strong workforce has become disillusioned with the company's refusal to sanction the increase unless it can re-negotiate the drivers supplementary payments. Its proposal would substantially reduce the premium rates staff are given for driving a 38-tonner (£2.40 a day) and for working late and early hours, says Britton. And it would probably lead to the night drivers losing their guaranteed £325 for a 60-hour week to hourly pay, he says.
"It would be a case of taking something from them to give them something back. And the feedback I am getting is that the drivers are very angry—over the past three years they have only had one pay rise—of 2%. They want a no-strings-attached traditional pay increase."
Within the next few weeks Britton and the United Road Transport Union regional officer Peter Mills are planning to meet the shop stewards who represent the nine sites to discuss what further action to take.
The company refuses to comment.