INCREASES OF 4s. 6d. to 14s.
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FOR HAULAGE WORKERS
HARD bargaining between the employers' and employees' sides of the Road Haulage Wages Council at a meeting on January 12, lasting from 11 a.m., until 6.30 p.m., produced substantial concessions for employees. It was agreed to recommend increases in basic wages and subsistence allowances, and the establishment of a new wages category for drivers of vehicles of over 18 tons payload capacity (in practice, vehicles drawing trailers).
The council recommended an increase of 9s. a week in basic wages .compared with a figure of 15s. for which the unions applied. For youths over 18, but under 21, the proposed increase is 7s. 6d. a week, and under 18 years, 4s. 6d. It was also agreed that subsistence allowance should be enhanced by is. 6d. a night to 15s. The employees had asked for another 2s. 6d.
It is proposed to increase the weekly subsistence rate from 61s. 3d. to 70s. The daily rate Of subsistence for parts of weeks after the first is to be increased from -8s. 9d.to 10s.
Drivers of outfits with a payload capacity of more than 18 tons are to he awarded a rate 5s, higher than that applying to the 15-18-ton category. This means that men who are now driving 18-ton vehicle and trailer combinations will receive an increase of 14s. a week.
The council also agreed to uprate Dursley, Glos, from Grade H to Grade I.
No decision was reached at a meeting of the National Joint Negotiating Committee of British Road Services, last week, when a wage claim similar to that submitted to the Wages Council was argued. It is known, however, that the State undertaking and private enterprise hauliers are working closely together on the claim, and the B.R.S. award is likely to be generally similar to that of the Wages Council.
A Year After An echo of last year's wage award to road haulage workers is heard in the appointment by the National Joint Industrial Council of a special subcommittee to exert pressure on certain hauliers who did not grant increased wages until the Road Haulage Wages Order became effective on May 9. Under an agreement by the N.J.I.C. a wage advance of 10s. a week was awarded as from February 21, but was not confirmed by a Wages Council Order until nearly three months later.
The employers' panel of the N.J.I.C. have nominated Mr. G. E. Chettle, Mr. Eric R. Taylor, Mr. R Morton Mitchell and Mr. E. W. Russell to be their representatives on the sub-committee. No date for a meeting has yet been fixed, but it is likely to take place in Cam bridge.