A manager's ;)redicament
Page 41
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kS A transport manager rnployed by a hire and reward !ompany, I feel compelled to vrite to you with my experience luring the TUC day of action.
Our drivers were instructed )y their local TGWU to work if hey wished to work.
Accordingly I arranged loads or all the fleet with our cusomers. Later in the day of May 3 all the drivers returned to iase and informed me that they lad been told by various shop tewards in the area that if they were caught working on the day .f action they would be blacked rom loading and tipping in the arious docks and container iasis which provides the bulk of iur business.
After a lengthy discussion vith the men regarding cus omer relations they simply in armed me that although they fished to work they were scared if being blacked if seen workng, which as you can ippreciate left me to inform our ustomers of the situation the allowing morning.
They were, to say the least, lot amused as I had promised hem the service which they lave come to expect from our ompany. This left me finally with egg on my face and a large lumber of unhappy customers.
What a situation we have when a few shop stewards, cting outside their own union irectories, may intimidate nion members in such a maner. This verges on gangsarism.
Could anything be more unemocratic and dictatorial? I aally fear for the future of inustry in this country with this ort of thing happens.
'erne and address supplied le believe the TUC's day of ;tion was the massive flop deserved to be and feel Ire your customers will 7preciate your predicaent.—Editor