URTU set to fight Ford fine in court
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by Sally Nash • The United Road Transport Union is gearing up for a High Court battle with the TUC to fight the threat of a £36,000 fine if Ford Truckfleet drivers do not rejoin the Transport & General Workers Union.
The Trades Union Congress disputes committee ruling is the latest twist in the inter-union dispute between the T&G and URTU over membership of Ford workers.
The row started over alleged racism when seven black Ford workers claimed they were kept out of better-paid driving jobs. Drivers at Ford's Dagenham plant, unhappy about the way the situation was handled by the T&G, transferred to URTU at the beginning of the year.
But, according to the committee, URTU should have refused membership to the T&G members. "Perverse and unlawful" is how URTU describes the TUC's ruling. Unless the disenchanted Ford workers transfer back to the T&G, URTU will have to pay the larger union £36,000 in compensation.
URTU general secretary David Higginbottom says: "My union has no wish to enter into conflict with our colleagues in other unions, but neither will we be intimidated. Unless this judgement is reconsidered, it will be challenged in the courts."
T&G leader Bill Morris says: "I regard the TUC ruling as a vindication of the T&G's stand on this issue of principle. I am delighted many Truckfleet drivers have rejoined the T&G and I would make it clear that we would welcome them all back."
The T&G has now called on Ford to implement the new recruitment procedures for drivers, agreed at an Industrial Tribunal earlier this year.
The committee also ruled that URTU should make no attempt to secure recognition at Ford. But URTU claims that at a mass meeting held last week, the drivers voted unanimously to call on the company to formally recognise their chosen union.
[ The T&G is battling for recognition at Halifax-based concrete and brick manufacturer Marshalls. The union is pledging to ballot members, including 30 drivers, for industrial action if the support is there.