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Truckstops: T&G wants Euro support
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• Top union officials are pushing for an EC directive to improve "appalling" truckstop standards in the UK — and they hope to get support from the Trades Union Congress by the end of the year.
The Government is "dragging its feet" over truckstops claims Dennis Mills of the Transport and General Workers' Union. "It needs to be pressurised by the EC, to make sure that it does something positive," he says.
Planning authorities should only give permission for service stations on main routes if they provide facilities for truck drivers, Mills says. He anticipates this would put a stop to the trend of turning traditional transport cafes into roadside restaurants which only accommodate motorists.
"Truck drivers are the wheels of economy, and industry would grind to a halt without them," he says. "So proper facilities should be provided for them."
Drivers' conditions will only be improved if the EC pressurises UK ministers. "Otherwise the Government will leave everything to free market forces," claims Mills, who recently exposed inadequate driver facilities on the Al (CM 29 March-4 April).
However, Frank Griffin of the United Road Transport Union disagrees. He believes it is the Department of Transport's responsibility: "It is no good standing back and waiting for Brussels — it could take forever." He insists the European Commission would not understand the urgency of the problem, because truckstop conditions are so much better on the Continent.
The EC commissioned a survey of European truckstops more than two years ago. No date has been set to publish the results. Griffin sees improving the quality of food and reducing costs as the main priority. Random checks should be made on truckstops, to ensure they are maintaining proper standards. "Food standards are dreadful, you need an immunisation jab to safely eat from some truckstops," he adds. "You don't have to go as far as South Africa to experience discrimination, it's right here in Britain," he says.
Griffin would also like to see more truckstops on primary routes, and says there is too much emphasis on motorways.
Both unions have united in the cause of lifting "deplorable tnickstop standards". They are both members of the Brussels Committee, part of the European Trade Union Congress, which meets several times a year to discuss problems and has already got the backing of the leading transport associations.
In September the TGWU hopes to get support from the Trade Union Congress, which represents nine million members.
"The TUC is very good at documentation but it says very little outside. We are calling on them to be more vocal about appalling driver facilities," says TGWU road transport boss Jack Ashwell who is spearheading the EC directive campaign.