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Tradeteam drivers stick to four-day week rule
Page 7
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• by Mike Gordon Striking Exel Tradeteam drivers will refuse to work more than four days a week, will refuse overtime, and will refuse "unreasonable daily hours" under a union agreement announced last week.
The Transport and General Workers Union has notified Exel's management of the industrial action, and has invited the firm to negotiate.
MG regional officer Phil Barley says: 'Previously the drivers were worked up to 12 hours a day This will stop. The only exemption to this withdrawal will be those workers involved in health and safety matters."
As of Friday 14 December drivers will refuse to work Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the dis pute is resolved. They will also refuse to work 'excessive" hours and any overtime throughout the entire week.
Barley says: "We have again requested a meeting with Tradeteam to stave off any action, but again we have had no response. We have also requested that the meeting be attended by the arbitrary conciliation and advisory service (ACAS), as this takes the heat out of the situation." Barley claims that he has been effectively "black-balled" from the Tradeteam depots for the past two years.
There was a substantial majority vote in favour of both courses of industrial action. Barley adds: "This is not a puppy-dog dispute. It will not be over by January."
The move will hit deliveries of Bass beers and soft drinks over the crucial Christmas period. However, a spokesperson for Exel says that all efforts are being made to resolve the issues, and the group remains confident that the effects on deliveries will be minimal.