WHAT PRICE PRINCIPLES?
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We all aspire to high principles, but they won't keep a 38-tonner working. So when a small group of hauliers stopped working for Bell Lines in protest over rates (see Industry News, page 4) they stood to lose a lot more than just principles.
For four of them it's proved a very costly protest; they've been told that their services are no longer required—the rest have been given a month to persuade the container company that its proposed changes to rate calculations are financially unacceptable. Otherwise...
Was it worth protesting in the first place? Ask one of the tour who lost work and they may well say no, but what else can hardpressed hauliers do? When the rate isn't viable there really isn't much to lose. To their credit the remaining hauliers continued their action in support of the four, but Bell is clearly in what is euphemistically known "a strong negoti ating position", and it knows it.
Whatever happened to that idea of business being a partnership based on mutual respect? Presumably it went the same way as principles: something that's all very well when times are good, but a luxury that nobody can afford in a recession. At least Bell Lines has agreed to let those hauliers in dispute come back with their own plans for a more workable rates scheme— many companies would simply trot out the old formula: "If you don't like the rate then don't do the work." But hauliers shouldn't have to down tools to talk rates.
Maybe too many hauliers are still deluding themselves that their paymasters have the time, the inclination or ultimately the money to be remotely interested in their contractors' financial problems. But if a haulier collapses under the burden of low rates the chances are his customers will also have to pick up the piecesit's not every day that a group of hauliers are prepared to band together and fight for what they believe in. We're used to tipper drivers and mixer men holding this kind of stoppage, but regular hauliers? Is this how rates will be negotiated in future? It's not difficult to stand up to a customer; •lust say you'll be staying away from his depot until he rethinks his rates. The trick is getting others to stay away too, While you stand firm on rates a rival can be in there quicker than you can say "lossleader".
So should hauliers read anything into the Bell Lines case? Only that sometimes you've got to fight for your rights, and your rates. Of course cynics might argue that it's no good keeping your principles if you end up losing your shirt, but when did cynics ever have a principle worth fighting for?