NEWS of the WEEK
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All Road Haulage to Stop on March 26?
UNLESS a settlement be reached before March 26, the employees of road-haulage concerns throughout England and Wales, numbering between 150,000 and 200,000, will cease work on that date. This statement was made by Mr. Ernest Sevin, secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, on Tuesday, following a breakdown in negotiations on wages. \
At a meeting held in London on Tuesday, at which the C.M.U.A.. A.R.O., and the Road Transport Employers Federation, representing the employers, met the National Executive of the Transport and General Workers Union, it was said, for the employers, that the original claim could not be met. Some consternation was then caused by the Union's executives declar ing a resumption of liberty of action. After a further discussion by the employers' representatives, Mr. Edwards, vice-chairman of the Conciliation Board, said that the employers were willing to offer a compromise.
Mr. Bevin's reply was to the effect that he wanted assurance that whatever the result of such compromise might be, could he rely on the backing of the three associations?
Whilst the discussion was proceeding and matters were reaching a point of a counter-claim on behalf of the employees, the members representing the A.R.O. left the employers' meeting with the remark : "If you want a vote from us or any pledge or undertaking. we are leaving."
This action precipitated matters.