T&G set for recognition
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by Karen Miles • The Transport and General Workers Union is to exploit Labour's promise of wider union recognition by forcing reticent employers in the transport sector into negotiations.
The move will affect companies which have been evasive or have refused to enter into collective bargaining with the TGWU when the majority of the workforce wants it and are union members of the union.
Ron Webb, national officer for the road transport commercial section of the TGWU, says there are several companies who could, if necessary, be forced to talk with the union.
One of the TGWU's first targets will be the Stock Market-quoted, Scottishbased dairy company Robert Wiseman Dairies, which has not recognised the TGWU for the purposes of collective bargaining but now says that it will comply "to the letter of the law" with any Labour party legislation.
The 1,600-employee organisation has 12 distribution depots, with most depots in Scotland and the north of England, including Manchester and Leeds.
TGWU national secretary Danny Bryan says the union also plans to approach managers at Esso, Shell, Calor Gas, Wincanton, P &O Roadtanks and Tanldreight to discuss the issue.
It is expected that Labour will have to introduce legislation to fulfil its election plege of forcing employers to negotiate through a union—provided that the majority of the workforce is unionised and wishes the union to be recognised.