Midlands drivers win compensation deal
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SUBSTANTIAL increases in compensation for the loss of heavy goods vehicle licences on medical grounds have been agreed for West Midlands haulage drivers.
In the first agreement of this type in the current wage round. Transport and General Workers Union officials are recommending acceptance or a deal which increases basic pay by less than the £6 being accepted elsewhere.
But it increases loss-oflicence compensation before. the minimum age for compulsory medical examinations is lowered from 60 to 46.
Employers have offered a compensation formula worked out in conjunction with RHA Insurance Services, the Road Haulage Association/Bain Dawes broker, which raises compensation for a driver with over 20 years' service from £1,350 to £3,500.
The new rates for lesser service are: two to five years, £700 (previously £270); five to 10 years, £1,400 (£540); 10 to 15 years, £2,100 (£81)); 15 to 20 years, £2,800 ()1,08(J).
Conclusion of this part of the deal, which meets many drivers' fears of the effects of stricter medical tests, influenced the acceptance of a lower overall settlement of basic pay.
Basic pay goes up by £5.75 on all grades, taking the 32.5tonne 40-hour rate up 5.7 per cent ot £106.75 and the 38tonne rate up 5.5 per cent to £109.42.
The employers have withdrawn their attempt to restrict an overnight subsistence increase to drivers using paid overnight a ccom m od a tion and have agreed an 80p increase on the nightly rate for all drivers to £12.30.
Night rate rises from 58p to 62p per hour, sickness pay rises from £22 to £24 per week, temporary accident benefit is up from £27.50 to £30 a week, and insurance payments rise from £35 to £50 for personal effects and from £7,500 to £8,500 for capital items.
Drivers in the East Midlands have rejected employers' offer of a weekly increase and 60p extra subsistence.
£6 increases have been agreed in three other areas: Scotland, London and the South-East, and Kent. The Scottish agreement increases the 32.5-tonne rate by 5.8 per cent to £109.50 and the 38-tonne rare by 5.7 per cent to £111.50. As already agreed, overnight subsistence rises by 68p in line with infla tion to £12.18. Rates for mates and other grades and in sickness and accident pay rise by 5.7 per cont.
London and the SouthEast's 32.5-tonne rate rises by
5.9 per cent to £108 and the 38-tonne rate rises by 5.6 per cent to £113.50. Other rates rise by 5.9 per cent, and overnight subsistence is up by 75p to £12.50.
The Kent 32.5-tonne rate rises by 6.1 per cent to £105 and the 38-tonne rate is up 5.8 per cent to £108.50. Subsistence rises by 75p to £12.-)5.
Leeds and Bradford employers and trades union re
presentatives have confirmed a settlement of six per cent, taking the 32.5-tonne rare up by £6.10 to £107 and ahead of the West Midlands in the wage league.
The 38-tonne daily supplement rises from £1.90 to £2,
increasing the weekly rate by 5.9 per cent to £118.