:all to clean ip clearin kLLS from a trade union
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ider for positive action ainst "cowboy" clearing uses have drawn a cautious Ica me from Road Haulage so iation chairman John bermann.
transport and General orkers Union national !re ary Jack Ashwell said: osi ive action is needed as m as possible to sort out the earmg houses' in the road .nsport business."
Ile called for drivers to use to deal with "disreputle" operations and recomlids that British Road Ser:es should be called in to run Otimate clearing houses -ough its depots.
lohn Silbermann told CM s week: "In every form of siness there are bound to be me black sheep. I must :ept that some won't work tirely honourably."
Fie added: "They are a very all fringe minority of whom one can possibly approve, but one must distinguish between them and the legitimate business of sub-contracting."
He countered Mr Ashwell's call for BRS clearing houses by saying: "Why just BRS? We have nothing against BRS, but other responsible operators can give as good a service."
Mr Silbermann continued: "One alternative open to any haulier who looks for business from clearing houses is to take traffic from one of RHA's cooperatives.
"These pretty well cover all of provincial Britain and are entirely reputable."
Mr Ashwell said: "Removal of these disreputable clearing houses is necessary if the industry is to be organised in a better and more efficient manner.
"It would be a step towards putting the business of return loads on a proper basis."
Mr Silbermann said he had little sympathy for the haulier who allowed himself to be dic tated to by clearing houses. "The only cure is for the haulier to insist on a price for a job. Otherwise he has no one to blame but himself."
He added: "Nobody goes to a greengrocer • and suggests the price which he will pay for a box of oranges and then goes back and insists on paying less. It is just the same in road haulage."
The TGWU is to consider the issue at one of its next national meetings.