Industry attacks 'senseless' strike
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)USTRY spokesmen responded quickly this week to a Ike call by London and South East hire or reward drivers, scribing it as "senseless". ALAN MILLAR reports.
"ransport and General rkers Union convenors repreting the larger haulage cornlies in the region issued the ke call last weekend, after ployers represented on the ional joint council made a t and final offer of E3 on top basic pay, which would e increased that to £90. They ) offered to raise subsistence by 25p.
'he convenors, some of pm attended the unofficial p stewards' meeting in Birgham the previous weekend
(CM. January 15), voted to call an indefinite strike with effect from Monday, January 31.
It will be an official stoppage, and the TGWU says it hopes .around 14,000 drivers will join the strike. Pickets are to be placed on docks and industrial premises served normally by the companies, but union officer Ron Connolly told CM that ownaccount operators' premises would not be picketed.
He did add, however, that smaller companies would be unable to operate if they depend on the larger companies for subcontracted work, and added: "It is inevitable that some own-account operators will get embroiled in the situation."
Mr Connolly accused the employers of misjudging the view of their employees.
The Road Haulage Association, in response, said drivers would be putting their jobs at risk if they went on strike. "In the current economic circumstances, it is hard to believe that the men will go on strike," he added.
Freight Transport Association South-Eastern controller John Morris said there is still reserve capacity in own-account transport, and predicted that a strike would be "inconvenient rather than disastrous."
He added: "I suspect that many rank and file haulage drivers know the score and hope they will decide to put their jobs first rather than heed a senseless call for strike action."
The strike leaders hope that their action will reverse the three-year trend toward lower haulage wage settlements, and are pressing national commercial group secretary Jack Ashwell to call a strategy meeting to co-ordinate strike action across the country.
But this may be too late, as four areas have reached agreement on 1983 wage rates already.
The highest settlement is in North Humberside, where the £86 top weight basic rate goes up by E5 (5.75 per cent), with a £10 one-off payment added to compensate for the deal not starting on January 1. Holiday pay goes up from 50 to 52.5 hours plain time.
In Leeds and Bradford, assenting hauliers have agreed a £4 increase in top weight basic, from £85 to £89, with subsistence increasing from £10.20 to £10.50. Sickness pay rises from £17.50 to £21.50, meal allowance from 20p to 30p, and the qualifying period for four weeks' holiday falls from three to two years' continuous service.
The Western Joint Industrial Council agreed a four per cent increase in top weight basic, to £88.40, with subsistence rising by 25p to £10, and meal allowance from 25p to 27p (62p to 66p after a night out).
The Kent JIC agreed a 3.3 per cent increase, taking top rate from £85.20 to £88, subsistence by 25p to £10.25, and reducing the qualifying period for holidays in line with the Leeds and Bradford agreement.
Eastern English drivers are being recommended to accept a five per cent offer, taking top weight basic from £85 to £89.25, subsistence from £10 to £10.25 and qualifying period for four weeks' holiday from three to two years. Urgent talks are promised on sickness benefit.
As we closed for press on Tuesday the Scottish JIC was still locked in discussion on wages there in an effort to prevent a strike.