Tanker Drivers Reject Pay Deal
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TiE pay and productivity deal for fuel tanker drivers (The Commercial Motor, December 10) is running into trouble. In spite of the big rise of £7 a week in the basic pay of the men, offered. in return for more efficient working round the clock and less overtime, the scheme is not meeting with the response which both the oil companies and the TGWU expected, writes our Industrial Correspondent.
Nearly 500 tanker drivers from 21 oil depots in the Midlands decided to reject the offer. Only one voted to accept it. The majority considered the proposed basic wage of £21 a week not high enough. They wanted it raised to around £24 to equal the average pay at present reached after working a 57-hour week. This would mean that the proposed shift bonus averaging 15 per cent would then be paid on top of the £24, Mr. A. D. Law, Midlands commercial services trade group secretary of the union, made it clear that the men were not against the whole of the offer. But they wanted to make sure that they would take home as much as before. To do so they felt that the extra £3 should be included in the basic pay. Reports on the men's reaction have been sent to union headquarters in London, where they will be studied. If branches in other parts of the country take a similar line the union will have little option but to re-open negotiations with the oil companies and press for more.
Approaches have also been made by the union to liquid fuel hauliers to agree to wages and hours on the scale acceptable to the oil companies, but it is understood that hauliers have been advised not to make unilateral arrangements because the cases are not similar and the haulier would not get the productivity advantages that will be enjoyed by the oil companies.
The demands have stemmed from the Midlands where Midland Road Tank Services Ltd, are being pressed to make a decision. The managing director, Mr. T. R. Wood, has twice replied to the effect that the matter should be dealt with by the National Negotiating Committee.
A preliminary approach has been made by telephone to Scunthorpe operator C. P. Marshall, who has been advised to await guidance from the RHA bulk liquids group.
" I can't understand how this one got past George Brown ", said Mr. S. L. Stapley of Thos. Allen Ltd., in commenting on the TGWU and oil company negotiations. "If you cannot measure the productivity, how can you calculate it? They cannot measure this."
Ross Group Service Project: The Ross Group's MI restaurant and service station project, which spans the motorway at Leicester Forest East, will be launched on February 1 with the opening of two cafeterias and two service stations. There will be parking facilities for 300 vehicles.