Growing Opposition to Further Wage increases
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THE Trades Unions' application for a further increase in road haulage wages, on top of the scales now enforced under the Road Haulage Wages Order, was tabled at a meeting, in London, last week, of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board.
The workers' representatives first asked for an increase of 6s. per week in wages and an increase of Is. ect. per day in the subsistence allowance, in the case of adult employees, A wage increase of Ss, per week for juniors and an increase of 9d. per day in the juniors' subsistence allowance was also sought. During the proceedings however, the workers' application was modified by their representatives, to the following suggested increases:—
Adult workers.—Wages increase, 5s. per week; subsistence allowance increase, is. per day.
Juniors.—Wages increase, 2s. 6cl. per week: subsistence allowance, 6d. per day.
It is understood that, after opposition had been voiced by employers' representatives to any further increase at present, on top of the wages and conditions already enforced from January 29, under the Road Haulage Wages Order, the proceedings were adjourned to a further meeting of the Central Board called for Thursday last (February 8).
Meanwhile, the employers' panels of the Area have been consulted by their representatives on the Central Board Employers' Panel, which was called to meet, in London, on Wednesday last.
The Employers' Panel of the Yorkshire Area Board, meeting in Leeds on February 2, decided to put forward .the utmost opposition to any increase in wages or subsistence allowances at the present juncture, on the ground that the industry cannot possibly bear any further burden. So far as Yorkshire is concerned, a point stressed from the employers' side is that most road hauliers in the county are already having to pay Grade I wages under the Road Haulage Wages Order, this involving substantial increases on the rates of wages paid hitherto under the Yorkshire .employers' own scheme.
General points of opposition raised in Yorkshire are that no one can foretell what will be the economic consequences of the higher wages costs involved in the Road Haulage Wages Order, that the increase in the cost of living is recognized, but the " spiral " of ever-increasing costs and wages must be guarded against, and that any further increase in haulage wages at present will cause disruption in the industry.
It is also stressed that road-haulage workers employed by the railways have had no increase in wages, and that the level of, their remuneration is a long way below that of the road-transport industry.