HONEY OR VINEGAR?
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Derecognition of drivers' unions might be seen as an understandable tactic by hauliers who are fighting to survive by holding down costs.
Derecognition is nothing new, particularly in the oil industry: Esso drivers gave up their right to collective bargaining two years ago. But sacking drivers after they refused to sign new contracts for which there had been no negotiations smacks of bully-boy tactics.
This week we report that United Transport Tankers, part of the American BET group, is derecognising the drivers' union on its Esso contract. The contract is coming up for renewal and UTT is believed to have told the drivers that the pay cut is necessary or the company may not win the contract again.
Cutting costs to maintain competitive edge has become a fact of life during this recession. But despite a union agreement UTT refused to negotiate with its drivers. Instead it threatened them with the sack if they did not sign the "substantially disadvantageous" revised terms and conditions. At least two of the drivers who have taken out a writ against the company have now been sacked after failing to withdraw their names from that action.
Of course the drivers signed the new agreements—they had absolutely no choice because, as the writ spells out, they 'were so dependent on continuity of income to manage their domestic affairs, so frightened by the consequence that they might lose their jobs and so overborne by the conduct" of the company. Road haulage is a tough industry and it has never been more competitive. But there's an old saying about catching more flies with honey than vinegar, and another about one volunteer being worth 10 pressed men. Major players such as NFC have shown what can be achieved by motivating the workforce and making them feel that they are part of a team. That, surely, is a more efficient management tech nique than intimidation.