New Dock Plan Speeds Transport
Page 57
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THE adoption of a new system of labour allocation at the Clyde docks is expected to improve the organization of transport to and from the area. Previously, dockers indicated which ships would be worked, and naturally moved to the work which offered the most money. This complicated the situation for transport operators in that no positive basis existed for co-ordination.
The stevedbring concerns in the area have now approved the appointment of an experienced and independent officer to allocate ships on a rota. The policy is that labour is allocated to specified ships. and their cargoes arc cleared out completely. Labour is no longer free to leave one ship for another while there is still work to be done.
Transport operators have long complained that uncertainty at the docks tied up vehicles and labour and increased costs. The present system received opposition from the dockers on its introduction. Strikes were staged at several points but the position has now become less tense.
A delegation from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, headed by Mr. C. E. Jordan, chairman of the transport committee. visited Southampton last week in connection with the difficulties which have been experienced recently with the movement of road transport at the docks.
A meeting, which was presided over by Mr. R. P. Biddle, docks 'and marine manager, was followed by an inspection of the docks with particular relation to road traffic. The conclusion arrived at was that the difficulties were brought about largely by the back-log of goods for shipment caused by the dock strike during the latter part of last year.
It was felt by the delegation that the difficulty was primarily a shipping problem, and that everything was being done through the facilities at Southampton docks to deal with road traffic, which had been specially provided for when the new docks were designed.
Several ideas foi assisting the future movement of road traffic into the dock:. were discussed.