RHA — AHA to meet on
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Hull 'stickers'
SINCE the introduction of the badge identity system at Hull two weeks ago (CM last week) no vehicles have been turned away from the docks nor have there been any problems in implementing the new system, according to Mr Jack Ashwell, Hull TGWU official.
The system, which means that only vehicles carrying a special identification badge will be recognized by the dock labour force on certain jobs, was the result of an agreement between the Hull Assenting Hauliers' Association and the TGWU.
The agreement has come under heavy criticism from Mr L. W. Hazel, Hull R HA secretary, who claimed the AHA's action could turn Hull docks into a "closed shop".
Mr Hazel told CM this week that a meeting with the AHA was to be held to discuss the situation. "This situation is'a bit delicate and I am just leaving it there," he added. In defence of the agreement, however, Mr Ashwell said that although only about 180 of the 400 local RHA members belonged to the AHA, only members of which would be eligible for the identification badges, these 180 were the "real hard-core of professional hauliers". The rest, he claimed, were made up of own-account drivers and farmers who occasionally undertook haulage work.
Only one professional haulier in the Hull area had refused to sign the agreement and that company had now gone out of business.
Mr Ashwell said that as long as "out-of-town hauliers" were subcontracted by AHA members to undertake ship to vehicle work at the docks they would meet with no difficulties. He conceded though that there could be problems for hauliers from others areas wishing to undertake this work on their own behalf.