Irish hauliers win rise after Dublin blockade
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by DeeIan Cullen • Battling Irish hauliers have won rates increases of up to 48% from shipping companies after they brought Dublin port to a standstill.
Hauliers negotiated deals individually with ahout 12 shipping firms and won increases ranging from 7% to 48%, with the biggest increases to "city rates" f w the shortest journeys.
"It was a great result for the hauliers," says Irish Road Haulage Association director-general Chris McCormack. "Everyone saw sense in the end."
The dispute blew up over delays at Dublin Port and hauliers have been promised the efficiency of the port will be raised, perhaps by extending its opening hours.
Although the port is working again, the dispute was obvious ly seen as a threat to Ireland's booming export economy. The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications (DTEC) has set up the Port Co nsu la five Comm i ttee to prevent future disagreements from escalating into toll-blown conflict The committee, with representatives from the DTEC, the IRHA and the Irish Business & Employers Confederation, will monitor in-house industrial relations committees at the shipping companies.
However, the dispute is not yet over for the IRIIA. Legal action over its role in the dispute was still pending as Co inmerciaI Motor went to press, but McCormack is confident the IRHA is "ahead on points".
] English hauliers in dispute at Felixstowe—see page 6.