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Last ditch WTD threat
Page 6
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A last-minute meeting between unions, bosses and the Transport Secretary could throw the VVTD into turmoil. Dominic Perry reports.
THE TRADE UNIONS are mounting a last-ditch campaign to derail the Working Time Directive — if successful this will cause chaos for operators.
The T&G and URTU have persuaded Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to convene a meeting for this Friday (18 February) with all the stakeholders from the industry. The agenda will include contentious issues such as periods of availability, holidays; and occasional drivers. Darling promises to "listen to any agreements reached when issuing his final guidance".
However, it seems unlikely that any consensus will be reached.The employers,in the form of the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations, are playing down the unions' chances of success and insist there should be no lastminute rule changes.
In a letter to members the FTA's chief executive Richard Turner expresses his disappointment at the situation: "I am outraged that so late in the day, after years of consultation, the unions have sud denly woken up and been entertained by the Secretary of State.
"I want to reassure you that I know of no reason why we should agree to further changes and every reason to believe that, ultimately, there will not be any."
The RI-IA's Roger King adds: "We are not going to be in the room negotiating—the meeting is a rather strange one in that respect. We are not there to horse-trade, just to listen to what they have to say" Both associations insist that the draft regulations are the best deal for all sides and would actually benefit drivers. However, the unions insist that the periods of availability in particular water down the original intentions of the directive.
A T&G spokesman warns:"We are using any avenues that are open to us. Until the final document is produced we have a job to do on behalf of our members."