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say tipper men
MENDIPS GROUP REJECTS QUARRYMASTERS' SCALE
by David Lowe • The Mendips Tipper Operators Group has decided to reject the rates schedule to be applied by the quarrymasters from September 1 (CM August 29), and instead demands payment of its own rates schedule, threatening withdrawal of transport from all quarries in the area if these demands are not met.
The meeting on Thursday of last week was called by the Group dommittee to consider the final reply (in the form of an ultimatum) from the Western Roadstone Centre in the rates battle which has been going on since last November. In its reply the Centre, representing the quarrymasters, stated that the new rates schedule which it had offered would be applied—and the implication was that the door was then closed for further negotiations until later in the year.
Some 80 representatives of tipping operators in the area attended the meeting, which was addressed by Mr. J. Cox, secretary, Western Area RHA, and Mr. M. Seviour, secretary, Mendips Tipper Operators Group. Mr. Cox quoted operating cost figures which clearly showed increases in costs amounting to 21 per cent over a year ago on a 16-tongross vehicle. On the basis of the new offer made by the quarries, and on the two previous increases which accounted for rises in fuel tax, this represented a total increase of only 9 to 10 per cent leaving 11 to 12 per cent of increased operating costs not covered. Mr. Cox asked the meeting if they were prepared to sit back and accept these rates. Mr. Seviour supported Mr. Cox's figures and suggested minimum earnings of over £4,000 per month for 16-ton-gross vehicles. This caused a gasp from the floor, indicating that many operators present got nothing like these earnings.
After having the complete history of the negotiations outlined and the cost figures set out and details of the rates schedule proposed by the Mendips Group clearly delineated, the meeting was asked to vote on two proposals; that the quarry rates be accepted and negotiations started very soon for new rates for next April or:—
Subject to the report of the South Gloucester operators a demand that the Western Roadstone Centre accepts the Western tipper operators' committee final request and, if this is not forthcoming by October 1, then advice will be given to all operators to present their vehicles for work but not to proceed to carry from any quarry which does not pay the Western tipper operators' committee rates.
The second proposal was carried unanimously. It was also agreed that in the absence of support from the South Gloucester operators who, together with the Mendips, Cheddar and Bristol tipper groups form the Western tipper operators' group, following their meeting to be held tonight the Mendips men would go it alone.
The new rate to be demanded by the operators includes adjustment to the drystone rate to remove anomalies, an overall increase of 24 per cent of all rates from December 1 and waiting time to start after the first halfhour. Also part of the demand, but this point has already been agreed by the quarrymasters, is that a definite date should be fixed for a meeting to be held before December to commence negotiations for an approved schedule effective from April 11970.
The unanimous support from all present indicated that an ending to the quarrymasters' supremacy may be in sight. Many operators present, particularly owner drivers, felt they had been squeezed to the limit. Although many of them could not afford to lose earnings for a single day, if it came to a withdrawal they felt that the time had finally come to take a step. To have submitted to the ultimatum at this time would have placed them in a position where they might never again be able to take such action.
When I talked to a number of the men after the meeting it was obvious that they are desperately short of cash and the prospect of another six months without rate increases to help with the burdens of testing, plating and maintenance in general was more than many of them could contemplate.