Wage settlement
Page 9
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THE FIRST official wage settlement this year has been reached in the West Midlands. It is in line with the £5.50 basic wage offers which are being recommended to drivers in other areas.
The West Midlands deal, reached between' Transport and General Workers' Union and Road Haulage Association negotiators, takes the 32.5-tonne 40-hour basic rate to £101.
Other rates rise by 5.75 per cent, except the 38-tonne rate, which rises by 5.75 per cent plus 4p to £103.68.
Overnight subsistence rises by 50p to £11.50, the night rate "dark money" payment rises by 2p per hour to 58p, and the basis of calculating hgv severance payment rises from £85 to £90. A previous offer to in crease accident and death benefits was withdrawn.
In the East Midlands (CM, December 15), the most recent offer is for a £5.50 increase in the 32.5-tonne rate, with a prorata increase on other grades.
A'cleal looks likely in Eastern England where a £5.50 acrossthe-board offer is being put to drivers with a negotiators' recommendation that they accept.
The 32:5-tonne rate rises to £100.25, the 38-tonne rate to £105.75, and overnight subsistence rises by 75p to the £11.50 rate agreed in the other areas to have settled so far.
Liverpool employers have given up their attempt to base this year's increase on the 55 plain time hour guaranteed week which applies there, and have made a £5.50 across-theboard "final" offer instead.
That would increase the 32.5tonne 40-hour rate to £105.50 (£145.06 for 55 hours), and the equivalent 38-tonne rate to £109.50 (£150.56 for 55 hours).
They have offered to raise subsistence by. 50p to £12, and have further increased the "dark money" offer to a 6p increase to 60p per hour. As in other areas, they have made no offer to reduce the working week to 39 hours.
The employers have also offered to make a detailed study of the feasibility of introducing an occupational pension scheme, and will report back to a joint committee in April next year.
The offer is being put to drivers on December 30 without any recommendation to accept or reject.