Wages Rise Will Force Up Rates, Say Hauliers and B.R.S.
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I F haulage wages go up, so will rates. Both the Road Haulage Association and British Road Services stated so this week. Last November a recommended 10 per cent, increase in rates wasaasked for by both B.R.S. and private hauliers. Following the announcement last Thursday that the Road Haulage Wages Council was to propose a reduction in the basic week for A and B licence haulage workers from 44 to 42 hours, and to add approximately 3 per cent. to the basic wage, the R.H.A. made its comments about rates.
B.R.S. is now considering a claim for a 42-hour week. A spokesman told The Commercial Motor this week: "Any substantial rise in wage costs must inevitably be followed by a rates increase."
The intention, so far as basic wage rates are concerned, is that the 3 per cent. should be added to the basic wage payable in Grade 1 areas, the final figure being amended to the nearest 3d.
Five shillings will be added to those rates in respect of wages in the London area and 4s. will be deducted in respect of Grade 2 areas.
The Rates Committee of the R.H.A. is to meet soon to consider the effect of the latest R.H. Wages Council proposal and other rises in costs since last November. The proposals will now be published by the Wages Council, which will then consider objections and finally issue its decision as an R.H. Wages Order.
It is estimated that the total wages bill to the privately owned haulage industry will be up by some 115m. a year. This is quite apart. from B.R.S. and from the C-licence employees who, in general, arc entitled to demand wages no less favour able than those laid down in the current R.H. Wages Order.
The unions, under pressure from the rank and file, have put in the new claim so soon after the last settlement (6 per cent., which came into operation on December 19, last) because of the time lag between the lodging of a claim and the coming into effect of new wage rates. This is usually in the order of some five or six months.
ALL-PARTY GROUP SEES
CONTINENTAL HIGHWAYS TWENTY M.P.s, members of the 1 Commons All-Party Road Study Group, spent five days this week examin,ing major city highways in Paris and West Berlin.
During their 1,275-mile tour, organized by the Roads Campaign Council, the M.P.s inspected the construction of two miles of the ring expressway which will eventually connect the French capital with six national motorways. They also saw work on a similar highway in West Berlin, which will cost £100m. and cover 62+ miles.