TOO MUCH • Your editorial on the recent BP and
Page 39
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Mobil tanker drivers' wage increases indicate to me that you may not be aware of just how questionable these increases are in view of the other unseen payments and their relationship to terminal staff awards (Mobil gave 4% about five months ago).
What other transport operator would provide all their drivers' clothing except vest, pants and socks? Ail clothing, top overcoats. shoes/boots, waterproofs are all of the highest quality. How many operators would allow the second jobs that tanker drivers can do due to their double shifts. Taxis, fish and chip shops, second driving jobs, you name it. You should see some of the sickness records. In one company it averages well over 8% and one chap had an average of 46 days/year and his holidays over a 10-year period. Good management eh?
In many terminals routing has to be done to an A, B to C schedule, with each driver getting so many each month. The 'A' jobs — a handsome tip for the delivery (a £5 note is not uncommon). This is tax free and the driver can do three such deliveries in a shift — each day! 'B' Jobs — clean but no money. 'C' Jobs — Diesel/GO deliveries — no money and dirty work.
I would question your term earnings £17,000 each year — paid would be a better term. As for work being physically hard or demanding, you must be joking. Please arrange to spend a day with a driver. Anyone could do their work easily. But have you ever seen a woman or a coloured person doing this job?
There are many other 'perks'. Many drivers off sick for 12 months have received full pay the whole time and there is another called Job and Finish, which allows a man to go home after about 5-51/2 hours of an 8-hour shift.
A driver, due to slack standards, could be given an 8hour job which he could easily do in four hours. On return he would be given another eight hours (now at time and a half) which again could be done in four hours. So he gets 20 hours' pay for eight hours work.
Having been in the industry for over 20 years, nothing ever surprises me now. Management does have a lot to answer for but some sympathy is deserved when you are subjected to the demands of the T & G.
Having got this off my chest I feel better. Do have a little look yourselves. You'll find it interesting.
Maurice Webster Goodworth Clatford, Hampshire