More trouble for Hines
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• As with the continuing story of Peyton Place, there seems to be no end to the Streetly Saga of the Hines family. Last year, after prolonged vicissitudes, the Streetly, Birmingham, firm of D. E. Hines (Transport) Ltd. closed down its haulage operations having refused to capitulate to TGWU demands to re-instate a sacked driver. The activities in this matter of the union's Midlands secretary. Mr. Alan Law, were subsequently questioned in Parliament and referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Last week it was announced that two of the original directors of 36-year-old D. E. Hines (Transport) Ltd., the brothers Ronald and Denis Hines. were forming a new company. Hines Bros. (Repairs) Ltd., to undertake vehicle recovery and repair work. Its managing director, Mr. Ron Hines, said that he, his son, his brother and his father, and their wives, would run the business. He told reporters that: "We have no unions looking over our shoulders. We shall never have another union here. If the business gets too big for the family to handle we will form our own union."
The new firm, which officially opened on February 5. has three recovery vehicles, including a Diamond T and intends to carry out plating and testing.
Mr. Law's reaction was swift. He at once announced that, at a meeting in Birmingham, it had been decided that drivers with TGWU cards would not allow their vehicles to be moved or repaired by the Hines (irm. He added that for three months his members had known about the Hines family's intention to enter the recovery business.
Learning of this decision. Mr. Ron Hines declared: "I am shocked. This is a vendetta."