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Alex Kitson spearheads union drive

16th July 1971, Page 18
16th July 1971
Page 18
Page 18, 16th July 1971 — Alex Kitson spearheads union drive
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• "You are the professionals—we'll see that you go first-class!" That is the headline in the first issue of The Highway to be published since the Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union became the Scottish Commercial Road Transport Group of the TGWU. And the story under the headline tells of the union's intention to promote a "powerful, pace-setting pay and conditions plan" for drivers, loaders, checkers, garage men and attendants.

There is to be a drive in particular for TGWU membership among garage workers, both forecourt and workshop staffs. .

The article says that one main aim is "something of the order of £25 per week" as the lowest basic scale for • any man employed in commercial road transport.

The structure of the road transport industry needs radical overhaul. says The Highway, and for far too long has been a transit industry for the casuals, nomads and floaters who use it as a means of getting quick money between jobs. "Now we are going to close the doors in road transport—for the benefit of everyone."

Behind the drive is executive officer Alex Kitson (formerly SCMU general secretary), who is quoted as saying: "We intend to get good national minimum wages which can be supplemented by local agreement. This will be a hard, unremitting campaign . . . . We intend to overhaul everthing in this industry where necessary—as well as wage rates and conditions and recruitment, we shall look at negotiating procedures, improving them where we consider this is required.

"The final details and plans are being hammered out now. We shall reveal them soon. The campaign will involve everyone in this industry. It is our intention to have everyone in the business travelling first class—first class wages, conditions and pros pects.

"This well be a revolution . . a revolution in the sense that we are seeking to change things . . . change them for the better for everyone."


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