Trouble among the transporters
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• Last week's resignation of James Car Deliveries, of Coventry, from the Coventry Car Delivery Agents' Association in protest at the high wage settlement agreed by the Association with delivery drivers, highlights the huge disparity of earnings in road transport, writes John Darker. Some Car transporter drivers can earn up to £140 a week, six times the earnings of lower paid drivers in the industry.
Mr L. M. James, chairman of Maurice James Holdings Ltd, parent company of James Car Deliveries, is quoted as saying that his company was outvoted at the Association meeting when, following a strike, pay rises from 9 to 17 per cent over an eight-month period were agreed. He was annoyed that representatives of Cartransport (BRS) Ltd, a State-owned company, had voted for increases much in excess of the Government's 7+ to 8 per cent norm.
Mr James has written to Mr John Davies, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and to the Department of Employment and British Leyland expressing dismay at the way in which the Association caved in to the pay demand. Under the new agreement it is claimel that the highest paid drivers will get a wag. of £86 a week, yielding with bonuses am allowances in busy periods, some £100 week.
Mr Bob Harrison, Coventry distric officer of the TGWU, claimed last week the the James company had been a prim mover in paying high rates to ca transporter drivers when legislation wa changed, so as to dispense with driven mates on wagons and trailers.
At Birmingham, the Coventry transporte drivers' pay rates seem modest in relation t. the £140 a week earned — but only in on week in 12 — on a short ferry run at Britis Leyland's Longbridge plant.
Mr Ronald Halifax, Cartran sport's are manager, said that most of the driver average about £50 a week over the year, bt between £75 and £80 during the week the were ferrying cars. "But the younge drivers, who are really fly at the job am don't even stop for a cup of tea, earn up t■ £140. It means going flat out 10 hours ; day for six days a week, so I reckon the: earn their money".