Hauliers Facing C-licence Competition
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THAT section of the Ministry of Labour which is concerned with wages paid by C-licence holders is reported to be investigating complaints made by employees of such operators. Applications for the reference of such complaints to the Industrial Court can be made by the worker himself, by a Trade Union of which he is a member, or a Trade Union which, in the opinion of the Minister of Labour and National Service, represents a substantial number of road-haulage workers.
Reporting the case of a Yorkshire complaint which was investigated, a bulletin issued by the Yorkshire Area of A.R.O. says that when a C-licence holder's employee was interviewed at 7.30 p.m. one evening (no worker can be interviewed during working hours or even during meal times), it was found that he was receiving £2 15s. for working 70 hours. There was a speedy sequel to the investigation, for, at the end of the same week, the worker's wage was increased to £3 5s. for 48 hours. 'with overtime after this period.
Complaints continue to be made in Yorkshire to the effect that some C-licence holders, operating for hire or reward under the war-time relaxation of their licence conditions, are compet ing with professional hauliers. In this connection two cases are quoted in which it is alleged that the drivers of C-licence vehicles operated under such circumstances have been receiving a wage of 15s. per week less than the corresponding wage for drivers employed by A or B licence holders.
These two cases are amongst others which have been reported to the Federation of Yorkshire Road Transport Employers.
The Federation also quotes complaints that certain C-licence holders are working for hire or reward for halfdays and even for whole days when vehicles of A and B licence holders in the same district, which are capable of doing the same work, are standing idle.
Recently, the Halifax Transport Owners' Association sent a resolution to the Transport Commissioner for the North-Eastern Region complaining that some C-licence holders in the Halifax district were operating for hire or reward in competition with professional hauliers. At the Association's meeting, last week, the Commissioner was stated to have asked for further information on the matter, and it was decided to forward such particulars.