HA and unions n top-level talks
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NIONS and the Road Hauage Association now seem kely to join in a national ommittee to discuss the ndustry's problems at top eve! — but pay will not be on he agenda for the meetings. RHA industrial relations fficer Chris Dixon told CM he committee would be lookng at problems such as the etting up of a system of regional Joint Industrial Councils.
Other areas to be investigated will be disciplinary meamres and procedural matters.
"The committee will provide forum where matters can be alked out at top level," said VIr Dixon.
He said that the overall aim vas to comply with recomnendations in the report on he haulage industry compiled >y the Government's Ad • Isory, Conciliation and Arbiration Services.
Problems are caused in egional negotiations between Lnions and management ecause of the arrangement of eographical areas in both the 'ransport and General Vorkers Union and the RHA.
"In the South East, the union's number one area also takes in parts of three other RHA areas," said Mr Dixon.
"The new committee will act as a co-ordination body to try and sort out problems before they are dealt with by the regions," he said.
The news of the committee formation follows a decision by the Transport and General Workers Union that it would have nothing to do with any committee that set out to discuss wages negotiations.
National organiser Jack Ashwell told CM: "We have made our position clear to both the Government's Arbitration, Concilation and Advisory Services and the RHA that wages negotiations must be done through our local and regional organisation."