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Socialists back Eastern drivers Tescos faces

10th January 2002
Page 5
Page 5, 10th January 2002 — Socialists back Eastern drivers Tescos faces
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

i• The Socialist Truck Drivers (STD) group has weighed into the fight against German haulage giant Willi Betz accusing it of "disgraceful" exploitation of cheap Eastern European drivers.

In a monthly newsletter the STD group writes: Our main concern is the working conditions of the drivers. Let's not forget, it's Willi cutting the rates, not his drivers. It's Willi exploiting the system, not the drivers.

The drivers, mostly Bulgarian, are said to be paid between £.300 and £500 a month. For a large company making huge profits this is a disgrace.

'It's no good saying that this is a good wage in Bulgaria; they don't work in Bulgaria, they work in the West earning Western profits.'

It claims that the drivers are so poorly paid in comparison with UK drivers that they have to carry their own food because they cannot afford to eat at British truckstops.

The group stresses: "The very least we can do is to stop blaming the drivers for the sins of their employers."

STD calls for a minimum wage for all HGV drivers monitored by trade unions, and solidarity by all EU drivers for any action by Willi Betz drivers fighting for reasonable pay.

Willi Betz was unavailable for comment.

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Organisations: European Union

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