Werseyside neat rates up
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Meat haulage rates on Merseyside, iarticularly from Liverpool Docks, are to ■ e increased substantially as a result of a Lew pay deal for drivers.
The Merseyside meat haulage function ;Temp of the Road Haulage Association has Lgreed to give about 300 drivers, employed ty eight firms, an interim increase of £3 on tasic rates, coupled with a 14s increase on Lubsistence allowance, bringing it up to £2 )er night.
A further increase is likely to be awarded n August. Mr J. Ritson, chairman of the ;roup, said: "A further meeting has been arranged for August 17 with the union and t is anticipated that final agreement will :hen be reached, the effect of which will be to increase by 25 per cent the present basic rates of pay."
This would bring basic rates up to £24 per week but with overtime and other earnings many drivers will be earning in the region of £60 per week.
Mr Ritson commented: "Demands for a considerable increase were made by shop stewards and we then conducted negotiations with TGWU officials."
He added: "It is clear that charges will have to be increased. This is greatly regrettedbut will be necessary to maintain standards of service from the docks, markets and stores. Individual firms will be assessing for themselves the size of the necessary increases."