'GWU drivers lot forgotten
Page 30
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EFERENCE your editorial 'orgotten Men" (CM July 28) iur ploy to marry the Docks id Miners disputes is a device create substance to your soiled editorial comments. It has :en said seven days is a long ne in politics, in your case a iser period could apply, for in
• ur issue July 21, "Call in the my", page 3, either you never ad it or conveniently you rgot the contents before iting your editorial for the Ilowing week.
Unlike editors, unions deal in ..:ts not fiction; the docks ;pute arose from a deliberate t of a registered port iployer in using unregistered ck workers contrary to the Dvisions of the dock listration scheme. The iployer was found to be guilty the breach by the National ■ ck Labour Board; the strike is prolonged by the
uctance of the employers to ,e assurances that the breach iuld not be repeated.
'act: Drivers suspended by docks dispute far
tnumbered the British drivers ight up at the Channel ports o consisted largely of foreign vers. When our drivers tried .-;laim unemployment benefit !y were refused, and on 3roaching the DHSS they re again refused benefit for mselves. Both Ministries
insisted that the onus of proof was on the claimant that "he was not participating in, or had a direct interest in, the outcome of the dispute". That is contrary to past practice of one test case in each area; in each company there would have to be a test case and if more than one union was involved, additional test cases.
Meanwhile, notwithstanding neither Ministry could indicate when the test cases would be heard, the claimant would only qualify for social security allowances for dependants less E15 strike pay deemed to have been paid. Representation was made on their behalf and will continue to obtain the proper payment of benefit.
Your reference to "the forgotten man wandered aimlessly round the export freight compounds, the tension took them to breaking point. Their leaders had disappeared" — on July 19 the National Trade Group Committee (Commercial) held its statutory quarterly meeting and decided on remits from the regions expressing support, both for the miners and dockers and endorsed these views, this committee consists of 18 driver lay representatives elected by, and from, the regional membership.
Their decisions were made known to the press following the meeting. However, these decisions do not conform to the format of your comments so therefore, are ignored. No TGWU driver is forgotten contrary to your statement, in fact our driver branches are among the most active in the union. In addition, both stewards and members do not hesitate either to ring or write on an issue.
No doubt shortly when the driver membership start to lodge their annual applications for an improvement in their terms and conditions of employment your editorial comments will then concentrate on two issues: one, we are asking too much and, secondly, its political.
I sincerely hope that in future you will follow the example of your reporters and comment on facts and not fiction.
JACK ASH WELL National Secretary Road Transport (Commercial) Transport and General Workers' Union • Fact: the dockers at Dover reopened the port to freight traffic before their leaders — union and employers — had reached agreement. Editor.