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Miners' strike hits haulage

17th March 1984, Page 6
17th March 1984
Page 6
Page 6, 17th March 1984 — Miners' strike hits haulage
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THE SPREADING miners' strikes have added a new dimension to the tottering wage negotiations in parts of Britain.

In North-East England, where there is still a 50p gap between the employers and Transport and General Workers Union, TGWU drivers are being asked to give their full support to the National Union of Mineworkers' strike against pit closures and a cut in output.

Union officer Geoff Eggleston told CM that his members had regarded the NUM's overtime ban as an internal matter, but they would give their full support to the strike, as a reduction in coal mining output would have a direct effect on road haulage.

His members have also voted to introduce heavy goods vehicle identification cards from Monday of next week. They will be issued to drivers whose employers pay the £93.50 basic rate the TGWU is seeking this year. Employers offered £92.50, but have indicated they would compromise at £93, which would be the lowest rate in the country.

Mr Eggleston said 17 companies, with about 1,000 drivers, had signed agreements with the union, and he estimated another 40 companies would be approached to seek similar deals. That excludes smaller firms which tend to escape TGWU attention.

Firms not paying £93.50 would be blacklisted and details sent to TGWU and NUM establishments to try to prevent them from operating.

The miners' strikes in South Wales dulled the potential effects of a one-day strike called on Monday this week to try to press operators to meet the £96 basic wage rate being sought by the TGWU there.

Union officer Geoff Jacob said many employers who would have been affected by the strike were prevented from operating in any case because of the NUM action, but claimed that an overtime ban last weekend had been well supported.

He added that the TGWU drivers were ready to support the NUM and would halt the movement of coal from stocking points outside the pits.


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