GWU threatens strike ver Roadline closure
Page 3
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
F NATIONAL Freight tortium's troubled parcels ion could be plunged damaging industrial n against the proposals to the Roadline business merge it into the smaller ional Carriers Parcels sion.
Alowing last week's ge of plan by NEC (CM, ary 11), scrapping the ;cr of the two companies a Roadline-dominated less, Transport and GenWorkers Union shop ards met in Birmingham Monday and issued an natum to management: T drop the closure plan or iced with a strike.
le issue is further mudby TGWU negotiators' .1 that they have been .ayed by the National 311 of Railwaymen, which .:sents NCPD's workforce according to NEC; has dy agreed to discuss mer:erms.
a statement issued by WU haulage drivers' mal officer Jack Ashwell Tuesday, the union said it iertakes to fight" NFC's :k on its members jobs working conditions, and "We call on our resive unions to support our fight for jobs and decent wages and conditions.
"To that end, the joint trades union officials should get together forthwith to mutate a positive campaign to overturn the NEC board's decisions and to achieve a finality that safeguards the interests of the joint membership."
It wants to co-ordinate action between the unions, and to "communicate to the membership as the campaign develops to ensure that we carry our membership with us at all times", This last point is calculated to answer NEC management claims last week that the TGWU was not representing its members' true wishes.
The TGWU has given notice of a one-day strike at all Roadline depots (some of which are shared with NCPD), but it is bargaining on NEC backing down in the face of potential loss of business.
The main points at issue are NFC's insistence on more flexible working practices and the adoption of NCPD's (less remunerative) terms and conditions of employ!' lent.
According to the TGWU's NFC negotiator, _John Moore, koadline workers could lose up to !:50 a week under the merger proposals. He said his members felt let down by the NUR which agreed to earlier plans for part-time and agency workers to cope with peak traffic.
-They've gone behind our backs and have sold us out," Moore told CM.
The NUR had still to agree a statement with its general secretary, Jimmy Knapp, as C.11 closed for press.
in a lengthy statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, said: "A successful merger — free from industrial action — will save many Roadline jobs, providing traffic can be retained and transferred to the new company."
It said Roadline workers retained by National CarriersRoadline will be offered a transfer incentive payment and a bonus reward, and added: "There will also be a wage increase award in the new company, effective from its formation. Bonus arrangements will also be improved.'' statement reiterated that the scale of job losses at Roadliire is "heavily dependent" on the new company retaining traffic.