Editorial
Page 4
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Forgotten men
WHERE WERE the trade union leaders during last week's ports dispute which brought hardship and discomfort to hundreds of drivers on both sides of the Channel? Commercial Motor, DAF Trucks and Volvo {GB) brought the stranded men some personal comforts, sustenance and refreshments.
There was no sign of officials of the Transport and General Workers Union or the United Road Transport Union. It was left to two men from Swaines of Stretton to do the talking for the others with the port authorities. Throughout the coal and docks dispute both drivers and hauliers have been ignored on all sides.
The Road Haulage Association has kept a low profile even when its members and their employees were subjected to stoning, threats and intimidation.
Haulage contractors and drivers are men of independent mind. But when they belong to an appropriate association or trade union they should be offered assistance in times of need.
In this instance, the port-bound drivers got support from other trade union members at Dover — the dockers acted in defiance of TGWU officials and opened the port for freight.
While the forgotten men wandered aimlessly round the export freight compounds, the tension took them to breaking point. Their leaders had disappeared.
Now they must all be asking questions. Why belong and pay dues for representation and then be ignored?
As they ask these questions, the drivers might also like to know that the TGWU press office was unable to tell us how many of their one-and-a-half million members were drivers. They have truly earned the title 'forgotten men'. Forgotten, except in this case, by CM, Daf and Volvo.