Hauliers pray for and to strike threat
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EWLIERS were praying for an eleventh-hour reprieve from a ttional dock strike as we closed for Press this week. Many fear that strike could be the final blow wh-ch will put them out of business.
Road Haulage Association and increasing unemployment among drivers.
Irector general George awman wrote last Friday to .ansport and General Workers nion deputy general secretary lax Kitson, warning of the poIntl ally disastrous conseiences of a national strike. He said: "Docks throughout le country are served largely by lad transport, many of whose Derators and drivers rely on is traffic for their livelihood. "The RHA is gravely )ncerned at the threat of a 3tional dock strike which would 3ve an immediate and disasous effect on the road-haulage )dustry. The industry is .4verely depressed, and a dock rike is bound to lead to more ankruptcies among employers,
"I hope I may be assured that, for the sake of your members and ours, this vitally important factor will be given full weight before any decision is made on industrial action in the docks," he concluded.
Mr Kitson has replied saying: "I can assure you that every effort is being made to resolve the dispute peacefully."
There is a strong feeling among hauliers that a dock strike would lead to internecine war between TGWU dockers and lorry drivers, and that the dispute, which is over the possible loss of 180 Liverpool dock jobs, will kill many haulage businesses. It has overshadowed the coming wage round, and operators' attitudes were summed-up by RHA Metropolitan and Southeast area secretary Deidre Kohler who said: "They are absolutely appalled. This could put the final nail in the coffin of many who are struggling to keep their heads above water."
Such metaphors were common among area secretaries this week. Scottish secretary Tom Brattin said: "This could be the death knell for many operators," and Eastern's Ken Williams said: "It could put hauliers out of business, and could be the last straw."
Hull secretary Margaret Edmunds told CM: "This could finish the whole thing. If they go on strike, they won't have taken any cognisance at all of the difficulties being faced by hauliers."
And in Northern Ireland, the Road Transport Association's Stanley Martin said it could have a particularly bad effect as the province's economy depends vitally on docks and shipping.