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First JIC deal gives 7% in the West Midlands
Page 9
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HAULAGE LEADERS have agreed to a 7% pay increase for drivers in the first in a series of regional negotiations for the hireand-reward sector.
The West Midlands joint industrial council (JIC) agreement means recommended hourly pay for artic drivers rises from £6.80 to £7.75 this month (January).
Jimmy Hill, Transport & General Workers Union regional chair for road transport, is satisfied with the rise, but says £10/hour will be needed when the 48-hour working week is introduced in March 2005.
"Diehards in the industry think it is never going to happen." he says." Until it punches them on the nose, they won't move."
But Mike Farmer, regional director of the Road Haulage Association, who also sits on the JIC, reckons hauliers in the region have already shown far-sightedness by introducing a flat rate four years ago.
He points out that this has removed the pressure on drivers to work long hours in order to benefit from overtime pay.
"We believe we have made a realistic and forward-looking settlement within the bounds of what is physically possible within the here and now," Farmer adds.
fill estimates that around 2.000 hauliers in the region base their pay rates on the agreement.
The East Midlands JIC is due to negotiate new pay rates for drivers this month (January).