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ONE RULE FOR THEM Its been some time Since Commercial

15th February 2001
Page 22
Page 22, 15th February 2001 — ONE RULE FOR THEM Its been some time Since Commercial
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Motor carried any reports of attacks on livestock trucks, but judging by stories in the papers hauliers' gain is some else's loss. I read that 87 people have been arrested after attacks on firms linked with a company that experiments on animals. These yobs even attacked the homes of three company directors.

This isn't the place to debate the rghts and wrongs of animal experiments; my point is that the people who were arrested for smashing up property and assaulting people are still being described as "activists". Can you imagine the media reaction if hauliers used similar tactics in pursuit of the campaign against high fuel dutyP "Activists? They'd call us "terrorists"—and quite right too, because in my dictionary a terrorist is defined as "a person who uses violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims".

Last year hauliers took to the streets in a desperate attempt to save their businesses, but no one was hurt and, judging by reports in CMand elsewhere, no one was intimidated either. These demonstrators could fairly be described as activists.

Eventually, no doubt, the focus of the animal rights' terrorists will swing back onto livestock hauliers. I just hope that the next time some loony plants a firebomb under a tractive unit the meda won't add insult to injury by describing the criminals involved as "activists".

Terror is what they seek to cause and terrorists is what they deserve to be called. Dave Wells,

Brighton.

DON'T STAND FOR IT!

1 read your piece on motorway service stations (CM 8-14 Feb) with interest. I have often feft that the pricing and quality of such wayside stops is testament yet again to the apathy of the British. For some reason, as a people, we seem to accept exploitation and appallingly poor standards as the norm, and if we grumble, we do so amongst ourselves.

If we were at all organised, or passionate, in our pursuit of higher standards, firms such as Granada and RoadChef would have to bow to market pressures.

The writer is right that it does not take a public inquiry to ascertain that motorway service stations offer terrible food for inflated prices. In addition the queues are long, the fuel overpriced, and the decor distressing. Some charge for parking, and I seem to remember a complaint by some service stations that trucks were "camping out" in their car parks. Frankly most sensible people would prefer to stay in their cabs than venture inside the video-game-infested, all-day-breakfast hell of your average truckstop.

The companies' justification, or, more properly, their excuse, for their exaggerated prices is that the service stations themselves cost so much to build. But with the surcharge of 70p per vehicle culled at the pumps, it can't take long for their capital investment, however huge, to be handsomely covered.

We have to accept responsibility as consumers for being ripped off so persistently. If every time a motorist or trucker went to a service station, he or she picked up a comment form and printed, "over-priced and poor quality", they would soon get the message. Don't feel you have to fill out a huge questionnaire or even give your name. Better you fit out 25 anonymous forms with the four words that matter this year, than one in great detail.

Incidentally, market researchers reckon that only one person in a thousand bothers to comment—so if you take the time, they assume that a thousand others feel the same way. Imagine the weight of numbers against them if we all made our point.

Steve Stockton,

Sleaford, Lincs.

JUST FOR THE RECORD...

Following the news stories in the 25-31Jan and 1-7 Feb issues of Commercial Motor, I fee] it important to set the record straight on a number of points which I believe to have been either taken out of context or misrepresented.

Wincanton has close working relationships with its drivers. As such, I would like it to be noted for the record that these pay negotiations have been held amicably through the proper channels and the ballot referred to related to the pay award and not to possible industrial action.

I was surprised and concerned that the report in Commercial Motor had feedback from our drivers that a walk-out was under consideration as this was certain i not our experience of the negotiations and nor has it been fed back to us since that such a response is likely.

Our understanding of the facts is that at no stage were our drivers promised the increase which it is claimed started the present unrest.

Employee concerns at Purfleet over working conditions have no link to the pay negotiations undertaken in Dunstable, Swindon and Birmingham. Our position in this regard remains as stated in previous issues of your magazine. We provide our staff with appropriate protective clothing for their working conditions. We are always willing to hear their requests for additional clothing but are clearly unwilling to negotiate through the media.

As a result of the severe weather conditions early in January, our staff did make further representations to us and this matter has been resolved with additional cold weather clothing.

As a major provider of logistics and supply chain services to a wide range of industries, it is vital we put our people first to retain the high level of knowledge and commitment to service our customers come to expect from all Wincanton employees.

We are working hard and actively to seek resolution to these pay negotiations but, as a major employer, it is important to us that we abide by the official channels agreed with our unions to ensure these and future issues are handled professionally and fairly for all parties. We are confident that all the issues raised in previous issues of Commercial Motor will be resolved and will be happy to share this news with you in due course.

Mike Higgins,

Group human resources director,

Wincanton Logistics.


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