ONLY PEOPLE MATTER • How time flies — 40 years
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since I started working for the then United Road Transport Workers' Association of England, and 24 years since became the General Secretary. Have things improved over the years in question? Well not as seen through my eyes.
On the industrial scene we have not managed to get it right. We must still be the worst communicators in the world. We are good at telling others how to do it (eg Germany) but not learning ourselves. We are good at criticising companies and unions in conflict, but then immediately forget the lessons and repeat the mistakes.
How did we ever get into this state? Before Jack Jones the unions and the employers did meet outside the conflict of wages/conditions negotiations. Then Uncle Jack changed all that with his "only the T&G is legitimate" type attitude, which in my view did wonders for good joint industrial relations — it killed them. It certainly put paid to joint meetings, even the Ministry of Transport stopped inviting the unions collectively for consultation, in fact it enabled governments to divide the parties and reduced the opposition to the many changes to transport legislation we did not like — but also prevented the parties jointly to influence legislation to benefit our industries.
We still have not managed to have the RHA, TGWU and ourselves meet together. To involve the FTA and the other parties would include GMWU, USDAW, ASTMS and NUR. Is this wishful thinking — or is it?
We all have a responsibility to our members.
But more important we have a responsibility to each other and our industry.
What can we in our industry do to create real jobs? We have the Young Drivers Scheme but we do not publicise it round the industry enough. We could have a special push on Young Driver Schemes, just for starters. The Training Board could be encouraged to make a special effort to start a scheme for young people on a special junior manager's training scheme etc. We need to talk to each other now.
1 shall have completed 40 years' service in March 1987 and at the age of 60 retired. Would it not have been great if I could have painted a picture of that period in history with all good items. The only good item 1 leave is the belief that the people in our industries, with whom I have enjoyed working for so long, can and will change the future prospects.
Jackson Moore General Secretary United Road Transport Union