Close firm threat to striking drivers
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• Deadlock is reported at the two-week-old strike by drivers at the Peterborough haulage firm of J.W. and E. Smith, where last week managing director Mr Eric Hurry threatened to close the firm rather than operate uneconomically.
Mr Hurry told CM this week that the economics of operating in the tipper industry were such that it was quite impossible to concede the 20 per cent increase asked for by the TGWU. "We have offered a 5 per cent increase and guaranteed a minimum £20 earnings," said Mr Hurry. "We are operating on fixed-price contracts and increases of the size demanded are just not on." Asked whether an associated company, Mid Anglia Transport Ltd, was involved, Mr Hurry said that two of its eight drivers had come out in sympathy with the Smith's drivers. "But," said Mr Hurry, "there is no reason for this company to become involved. We run the companies entirely separately and there is no financial connection."
Asked whether he would carry out his threat to close the firm, Mr Hurry said that the decision would have to come from his co-directors. "You don't just close a firm after 40 years without a good deal of thought," he said.
At TGWU headquarters in Peterborough, Mr A. Avison, district secretary, confirmed that no talks were planned for the immediate future. The union was claiming £3 a week increase for the drivers and had been offered only 80p. The union, he said, had successfully negotiated increases in the scale suggested with other companies in the area and he considered the demand entirely reasonable.
Commenting on the situation at Mid Anglia Transport, Mr Avison said that he regarded the two firms virtually as one and that union action would be taken against this firm also. He had requested that the strike be made official.