Anxiety Amongst Nationalized Haulage Staff
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THERE is considerable perturbation amongst the members of certain sections of the staffs of newly nationalized industries, in particular, in the clerical divisions of what were formerly independent road haulage businesses, and which now come under the tegis of the Road Haulage Executive.
Some months ago the RILE. concluded an agreement with the Transport and General Workers' Union and the Railway Clerks' Association with regard to the bargaining machinery, and the National Staff Council for the R.H.E. recently issued a booklet entitled "Negotiation and Consultation," which referred to an agreement between representatives of the Executives and seven trade unions.
The cause of the unrest is that the body known as Nalgo was excluded from the agreement, for the reason that other unions affiliated to the T.U.C. were strongly averse to its participation. The non-affiliated Nalgo has a membership of nearly 200,000 " black-coated " workers and is represented in the passenger transport, gas, electricity and health services. In the road haulage field it is claimed to have a membership of over 50 per cent., so it naturally follows that the other unions must have less than this percentage between them.
Meanwhile those concerned who, of their own free choice, selected Nalgo as their representative body now discover that they have no representation in the negotiating machinery. Thus they have little or no say in such important matters as grading, salary scales, and conditions. Would it not be more prudent of the R.H.E. to consider its staff's free choice? Until all affected receive complete recognition there will continue to be dissatisfaction.