PM steps in to put end to blockades
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by Mites Brignati and Rob Willock • Prime Minister Tony Blair was the unlikely hero of the French blockade after it appeared that his pressure at the Anglo-French summit in London last week helped bring the dispute to a swift conclusion,
The blockades at Calais and across France are understood to have dominated talks between Blair and his French counterpart, Lionel Jospin. As pressure for a settlement mounted, a deal was struck on Friday.
"Give credit where it's due," says Steven Norris, directorgeneral of the Road Haulage Association, "Blair appears to have done the job" The blockades came down almost as quickly as they had been created five days earlier.
The agreement centred on an immediate 6% pay rise for French drivers—part of a threestage increase to a monthly wage of FFr10,000 (£1,000) for 200 hours work by the year 2000. A further one-off payment of FFr3,000 (C300}, promised after last year's strike, will be paid to 10% of drivers.
In return, the employers won pledges from the government to help with preparations for European deregulation next year, plus an annual FFr800 (80) tax break per driver.
El The impact of last week's strike was nothing in comparison to that of 1996. UK hauliers were better prepared and many made deliveries early to avoid the action. The general view was "it could have been worse", • See news extra, page 13.