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Seasoned campaigner

22nd July 2004, Page 24
22nd July 2004
Page 24
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Page 24, 22nd July 2004 — Seasoned campaigner
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Fed up with luke-warm government, Jack Crossfield has set up his own political party to tackle transport issues. Jennifer Ball reports.

IIack Crossfield is not one to sit back and wait for things to happen. He's spent the past 40 years campaigning in his various positions in the Transport & General Workers Union (T& G) and as secretary for the Drivers Action Movement (DAM) to improve conditions for truck drivers.

However, after becoming increasingly disgruntled with the government's lukewarm attempts to improve the road transport industry he decided the only way to get issues raised in parliament was to set up his own political party, the Local Community Party. While it may not have won the local election last May it gave the traditional reds and blues a run for their money. It won 1,044 votes, j ust 378 fewer than the local Labour party candidate and 330 more votes than the Tory party; less than a year after its formation.

Bauncin' back

Crossfield is clearly not disheartened: "I have seen many changes in transport ministers over the years, but despite promises that things would improve I have not seen any changes in road transport. I truly believe that the job [transport minister] is a stepping stone up the political career path.

"I decided last June if you can't beat 'em join 'em so that's what! did. Other people may have thrown in the towel after losing, but I am not like that. In fact, it's given me more gusto to have another go and do better in the General Election next year."

Crossfield became involved with the trade union movement in 1963 when he began hs first job in transport with J&G Singfields: "There was a lot of corruption back then and being a junior I had no idea what was right or wrong. It was a case of if you do over 14 hours put it on your card and we'll pay you. If you didn't do it you were sacked. It's as simple as that."

The long hours and poor pay took their toll — Crossfield decided truck driving wasn't for him so he went to work in the steel industry.But after developing pleurisy he followed his heart back to haulage.

He became increasingly involved in the T&G while working for Metal Box. moving up the ranks from a shop steward, then safety representative, to a combined secretary acting on behalf of more than 23,000 workers throughout the UK. But he admits his campaigning has not been without sacrifices: "When most people went down the pub after work I was writing letters or organising conferences. I have been married for 42 years to my wife Gwen and we have five children. She has supported me all the way, but it has often been a lonely time for her.1 wouldn't say! neglected my family, but because I was working away a lot I didn't spend as much time with them as I should have: sometimes they became second best."

The turning point for Crossfield was in 1998 when he was made redundant, which he believes was a result of a campaign against the merger of Metal Box and a French company called Canud: "I had managed to get the support of a couple of million shareholders — Ken Livingstone, who was then leader of the Greater London Council, and many miners who had shares in the firm."

Crossfield was not set back by this; he saw his redundancy as an opportunity to do something different and he went back to college while working as an agency driver. He eventually returned to a permanent position as a driver for Frederick Carsons and later TDG. However, following an accident in which he hurt his back, he now works casual hours when his injury permits.

Crossfield says he often became frustrated at the slow pace at which the T&G backed his campaigning, so again he decided drivers had to do something themselves. After seeing a TV programme on conditions in the workplace he contacted a number of drivers that had been interviewed.

He arranged a meeting for them and other drivers; 150 people attended and DAM was launched with the intention of raising the issue of public safety and drivers' rights.

DAM celebrates its 10th anniversary this year after years of fighting for, among other things, better wages and improved overnight parking facilities. It has had to overcome many stumbling blocks along the way and broken promises from transport ministers over and again that conditions would improve. In 2002,Crossfield's group produced a report highlighting the problems of overnight HGV parking in England and Wales, after which a meeting was set up to discuss the situation. However, despite assurances from former transport minister John Spellar that he would arrange a second meeting, neither he nor his successor David Jamieson have done so.

Following a spate of arson attacks and drivers being hijacked. DAM is now trying to revive its campaign for overnight parking. But Crossfield says there is still reluctance among local authorities to take action on truck parking. It recently wrote to 119 across the UK highlighting the problem. but only 27 responded and they were not positive about the future of truck parking in their areas.

The Local Community Party has a clear agenda for transport — HGV drivers should have safe overnight parking, shorter working hours and better pay.

"1 wouldn't say that £10/hour is good enough for someone driving a 44-tonne vehicle up and down the road. You have to take a test and have a medical. There are a lot of working restrictions, which other workplaces don't have and generally it is a tiring and frustrating job.

Excessive work

"Our basic working week is 40 hours, but most still work in excess of 70 hours;most blue/white collar workers are on a 35-hour basic week. If you have worked these hours for 40 years like I have you have probably worked half as much again as a normal person.

That is why a lot of HGV drivers don't benefit from their pension. They die—before they reach that age — in poor physical conditions. I have seen some good men die because they are simply worn out,he says.

He is now preparing for next year's General Election. While MPs earn around £68.000 per year. Crossfield says he will take only the average earnings of a truck driver at around £16,000 so the rest of the money can be put back into the community.

Crossfield's voluntary work extends beyond the T&G: he also sits as a magistrate, on the tenants and resident association: acts as a campaign organiser for the Citizens' Advice Bureau; and is a trained tutor for people with chronic diseases.

So what motivates him? "I've been lucky. I've had good jobs, a supportive family and many luxuries. If! wanted a salary! would look for a job that pays. I just do it because I want to give something back to help those less fortunate than myself," he concludes. •


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