COMMENT
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WISE WORDS FROM TGWU
It's not every day the general secretary of the Transport & General Workers Union drops by for a chat. At Truckfest Bill Morris did just that—and it was certainly an interesting conversation. As a man who has to deal with many issues at once Morris can't be expected to have a definitive answer on each and every one of them. So it proved when CM asked him whether he thought secondary picketing would be allowed under a Labour government. His reply, in support of what he described as "solidarity of action", will no doubt set a few nerves jangling amongst operators. However, he is pragmatic enough to know that any solidarity is likely to need clear ground rules if there's to be any change in the current employment legislation. On driver welfare Morris is unequivocal: "The status of the driver is low—he's regarded as a bloody nuisance. There is a significant campaign to be won in raising the status of drivers and educating the public."
tress, poor diet,and lack of job security are all putting an intolerable burden on the man behind the wheel, he says Drivers hours remains top of the TGWU agenda. At a recent meeting of drivers which he attended the overwhelming concern was on this topic. According to Morris: "Unless we get a grip we'll lose these guys and they'll take action—they're determined to bring these issues to the public's attention." Any change could only be decided by Brussels. But a Labour Government is likely to support current EU moves to reduce overall working hours—and Morris is convinced that Labour will win the next General Election. While you might expect the TGWU general secretary to tall( of reducing the working week, Morris's priority is that the time is right for the road transport industry to stand up and tell the country just how valuable it is. He is also keen to get together with the trade associations and other groups in order to finally deliver "a collective view point. The transport industry needs something with broader appeal and not just trade associations, but to include opinion formers." Given the kind of support such a campaign could command, and the results it might achieve, the sooner everybody drops by Transport House for a chat the better.