Managers join drivers' delegation to TGWU
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by John Darker
• A conflict between drivers and branch 535 of the TGWU which began on August 16 led toa mass lobby of Transport House in London on Monday. The drivers, employed by Smith Brothers (Tamworth) Ltd, accepted an offer of 10 per cent increase based on tonnage handled and worth up to £5 a week, as an alternative to the claim for £2.50 hgv payment plus £1 a week on basic claimed by the TGWU, through Mr Alan Law. The union objected to the Smith Brothers offer — ultimately accepted by all but two drivers — because it was based on piecework.
Three members of the management of Smith Brothers (Tamworth) Ltd formed part of the delegation of some 40 drivers who lobbied Mr Ken Jackson, commercial services secretary of the TGWU. It was not known to Mr Jackson or, I understand, to Mr Alan Law, who attended the meeting, that not all members of the delegation were bona fide drivers. A considerable fuss is likely to be caused by this revelation; it is, perhaps, analogous to a trade union getting a tape recording of a confidential management discussion.
The Tamworth party first lobbied the MP for Lichfield, General Goldsmith, at the House of Commons, following up previous meetings at Tamworth.
The dispute has led to a number of sympathetic blackings or partial blackings in the Birmingham area in recent weeks. Two shop stewards, allegedly appointed by branch 535 after the dispute began, have picketed the Tamworth depot of Smith Brothers since the dispute started in August. The accredited shop steward before the dispute, Mr A. R. Pope, and another steward, Mr R. J. Sheppard, who was awaiting accreditation, have accepted the employers' terms,! am told.
At the Transport House meeting I understand that Tamworth drivers, whose membership of the TGWU had lapsed, were invited to attend a branch meeting on Sunday next when consideration would be given to re-admitting them. Some, it is reported, have attempted unsuccessfully to join the United Road Transport Union.
Mr Roger Smith, of the employing firm, told CM that the dispute had caused, and continued to cause, considerable loss of traffic. Some of the vehicles were having difficulty in loading at NCB collieries and it was necessary to refuel the vehicles at depots away from Birmingham; fortunately, there were some differences of opinion in the area as to the justness of the action taken by the union branch.
Mr Smith said that on average his drivers earned about £43 a week and the offer made by the company was generally worth more than would have been yielded by the union claim. It would not have been commercially feasible to pay the claim in its original form. The drivers enjoyed a very flexible incentive scheme and were not obliged to accept incentive terms in all circumstances.