Serious Turn in Wages Question
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REPRESENTATIVES of the employers in the Northern, NorthWestern and Yorkshire Traffic Areas were in consultation at Newcastle, last Saturday, concerning the permanent settlement of wages and conditions in the goods-transport industry, following the expiry of the interim periodin December next.
The discussions took place at a meeting of the Joint Standing Committee of the employers' panels of the Conciliation Boards for the three areas. The committee, it is understood, reached a measure of agreement on certain recommendations to the employers' panels as to the policy to be adopted in the negotiations for a permanent' settlement. These recommendations are in favour of opposition to the payment of Grade 1 wages, to the guaranteed week and to the compulsory granting of a week's annual holiday with pay to employees.
It is anticipated that in each of the three areas the Conciliation Board will fail to reach agreement, and that the matter will be referred to the National Appeals Committee.
The wages struggle will largely hinge on the issue of whether Grade 1 or Grade 2 wages shall apply in the principal towns in the three areas. In Yorkshire it is understood that the employees' panel of the Area Board will ask for the payment of Grade 1
wages in Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield.
A point which theywill, no doubt, emphasize is that Sheffield and Rotherham Corporations have agreed to pay Grade 1 wages. Grade 1 wages are
also being paid in Liverpool in the North-Western Area, whilst in the West Midland Area the Board has agreed on the payment of Grade 1 wages in all the large towns.
It is expected that the issue in the Northern, North-Western and yorkshire Areas will come before the National Appeals Committee next month.