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Alan Law forces the issue over rises 'men don't want'

11th April 1975, Page 4
11th April 1975
Page 4
Page 4, 11th April 1975 — Alan Law forces the issue over rises 'men don't want'
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Blacking hits Derby haulier

by CM reporter A DERBY haulage contractor may be compelled to lay off drivers in a dispute involving Mr Alan Law—the Transport and General Workers Union's fiery Midlands trade group officer. The company, F. B. Atkins and Sons Ltd, says that its drivers are satisfied with a new pay offer it has made, but Mr Law is insisting on a better deal over their heads.

The company, which specialises in long-distance container trunking, has already had vehicles turned away from the Perry Barr container depot in Birmingham and from an OCL container depot in Leeds by TGWU shop stewards. It says the company has been blacked. Mr Michael Atkins, a director of the company, told CM this week that the firm's drivers had had substantial pay increases last October. Now the company was 'offering to raise the basic pay rate from £37.50 to £40 and keep a guaranteed 50-hour week. Mr Law is apparently insisting on the company paying a 55-hour week back-dated to December 1.

Mr Atkins said that the new demand would mean a " criminally inflationary and financially devastating" rise which his men had not even asked for.

The company operates a fleet of more than 70 vehicles al though at the present time about a dozen of these are off the road because of shortage of business. Because of this, no lay-offs or short time working have yet been necessary ; drivers who leave are not being replaced. But Mr Atkins told CM that lay-offs would start soon if the blacking became worse or if the dispute was not ended.

To make the blow even worse to Atkins, the company understands that TGWU members are blacking a café owned and operated by another Atkins family company.

Neither Mr Jim Hunt, Derby TGWU officer, nor Mr Law were available for comment on Tuesday.


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