West of Scotland drivers' strike goes to Conciliation Board
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A POSSIBLE settlement of the unofficial strike by drivers in the West of Scotland was in sight earlier this week as the haulage companies involved and union officials prepared to take the dispute before the Conciliation Arbitration Board in Glasgow on Tuesday.
As CM forecast last week, the strike had spread drastically, and by Monday 50 haulage companies had been affected and 2,500 drivers brought out on strike.
Besides the Clyde Port Container terminal at Greenock. the Grangemouth Sea Land container terminal and Glasgow docks had been affected by picketing.
A spokesman for the Road Haulage Association said that picketing was also taking place at the British Steel Corporation's, Motherwell plant and at the Chrysler plant at Linwood. Newsprint, meat and other foodstuff deliveries had also been hit by the unofficial stoppage.
The spokesman added that a flying picket duty was being operated by the drivers. "There has definitely been intimidation on behalf of the pickets," he declared.
District organizer of the TGWU in Glasgow, Mr George McCready, said that to the best of his knowledge there had been no incidents of intimidation or violence. One of the problems with the dispute was that so far as strikes were concerned most of the drivers were inexperienced. "We have had peace in the road haulage industry for a long time," he said, "and have never reached this stage in the industry before."
The drivers have received an offer of £35 for 40 hours, with a guaranteed minimum of 45 hours; £41.46 would be paid for drivers of vehicles with., a carrying capacity of between 18 and 21 tons.