War declared on the tacho
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WAR was declared on the tachograph last week by leaders of the Transport and General Workers Union.
After a four hour meeting the unions' national road transport committee • expressed total opposition to the fitting and operation of tachos; • demanded a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Mr William Rodgers; • and gave official backing to members who are already taking militant action.
This tough new line is a shift in TGWU policy and follows rising driver unrest. Before the move was announced union members were allowed to take out trucks fitted with tachos so long as the instrument was not switched on.
On Monday the Birmingham branch, led by Mr Alan Law, brought in a threat to black vehicles fitted with tachos (CM October 15).
A spokesman at Mr Law's office told CM on Tuesday that most companies had already complied with the demand tc replace the "spy in the cab' with speedometers.. And thE branch had given 25 firms an extension until November because of difficulties in get. ting replacement speedos rot some vehicles.
The spokesman claimec that Midland BRS had not responded to the Birmingharr Branch call "and they no have some vehicles standim against the wall doing noth ing."
Companies in the Birmingh• am area have also been tolc that from the beginning o next year drivers will refuse tc admit to their depots an vehicle fitted with a tacho. graph.
Mr Jack Ashwell, nationa secretary of the TGWU's mac transport group, said that thE committee decided at las' week's meeting that no refer. endum will be held on thE issue.
"We have issued no direc tives to the branches but then is a lot of support for the mer who have taken action Branches have been callec upon to support the new grout policy."
The union wanted an urgen1 meeting with the Minister an( would ask for an asSuranct that the Government will sup port the anti-tacho fight.
At next week's meeting oi the Economic and Soda Committee of the EEC a plar will be discussed which woulc mean that tachos need only b( operated on internationa journeys.
But last week, Mr Rodger said in the Commons that 1.1( will not make any decisior about the issue until he ha! talked to the people who wil be most directly involved.