Drivers pay: £1 00 a week on horizon
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DRIVERS for a major transport group may soon break the magic 000-a-week basic barrier. Negotiations are understood to be going on over the weekly basic rate — and a 50 per cent increase in fringe benefits, including overnight subsistence,, is likely to form part of the package.
But as CM went to press this week, neither the company nor the Road Haulage Association would talk about the claim, although one company official said that it was going all out to avoid a repetition of the confrontations of last winter.
He said that talks had been going on with the negotiating bodies involved in road transport – but in common with many other companies, the expiry date on the current agreement is known to be January 1.
The rise of £36 a week on basic rates would give the men a 561/4 per cent rise over current basic rates, with increased allowances and fringe benefits pushing this figure even higher.
It is known that this kind of rise would be in line with the policy being pursued by the major unions.
At the United Road Transport Union, reaction to questions on the claim was more open. Regional officer Frank Griffin told CM that the claim is being formulated and it will be around the £100 mark and there will be claims involving improved accident and sickness insurance benefits.
It is clear that URTU is looking to this to point the way for other major claims in the 1980 pay bargaining round.
Mr Griffin pointed out that it was "significant" that this year all the major settlements, including the National Freight Corporation and the CoOperative Societies will fall on the same day.
Operators in smaller companies have already expressed fears that if one larger group pays E100 a week there could be an all-out strike for similar amounts.
Gross pay for any driver on £100 a week is likely to be more like £190 with overtime – and this would also be paid to drivers on holiday.