Irish hauliers win rise...
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by Sally Nash • A 7% rate cut turned into a 3.5% increase for almost 300 Irish drivers when a one-clay strike forced container firm Seawheel to withdraw threats to pay them less.
Irish financiers are understood to have offered their support to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) as it struggled to get Seawheel to withdraw plans for a 7% rate cut and 90-day payment terms.
Seawheel's action prompted angry drivers at Dublin port and Belfast to a stage a one-day strike last week, and Seawheel quickly capitulated.
"We've had a very tough 48 hours, entirely precipitated by Seawheel," says IRHA director-general Chris McCormack. "But with the payment rollback to 30 days this is an increase." • As Irish lorry drivers struck over low rates {see left) angry Irish farmers set up a picket last week over ferry firm Pandoro's refusal to carry livestock to the Continent.
Some 50 members of the Irish Farmers Association were protesting against Pandora's refusal to carry all types of livestock. The group, led by president John Donnelly, blocked trucks leaving the Pandora terminal at Dublin port. Agriculture Minister Ivan Yates has discussed the situation with Pandoro and its parent, P&O.
IFA president John Donnelly says farmers are angry and frustrated at "the total intransigence of the shipping company" and the inaction of the Government on the issue of livestock exports to Europe. P&O says talks are continuing: the company expects the situation to be resolved in the "fairly near future".
Describing Seawheel's action as "high-handed", McCormack says banks privately offered to put pressure on the company for fear they would lose the money they lent to hauliers to buy trucks. Seawheel refuses to comment but is expected to continue negotiations with hauliers over further rate rises.
The 3.5% increase will take effect on 1 May.