Rallies fall short for RHA members
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REPORT: RHA CONFERENCE, CYPRUS by David Craik MI Road Haulage Association directorgeneral Steven Norris faces a revolt from members unhappy that the association's Fair Play on Fuel rallies are failing to ram home the message that diesel price rises are killing the industry.
A series of hauliers told the RHA's conference that the policy of talking to the Government was not working: there were calls for more direct action such as demonstrations. Many said they were fed up with the association "creeping to politicians" and asked if the time had now come for "less peaceful measures" to be taken.
"We have got nowhere," said Kent haulier Mike Beer. He is a foundermember of the Trans-Action group of hauliers, which took the campaign onto the streets of London.
New RHA chairman John Bridge seemed prepared to listen: "If the Government does not take on our message then we will have no alternative but to take action such as an organised national withdrawal of services for 24 hours," he said.
Even Norris was forced to agree, but he stressed direct action was only an option "if legal mechanisms don't work".
"Such a development would be regrettable, though," he said. Until now, Norris has been Norris told rallies aren't working, opposed to :FAIR ruEL 111111Big W TETTE II larr
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direct action. He remained confident the Government will adopt the Essential User Rebate and is to meet Treasury Minister Dawn Primarolo.
"We will tell her that 11,000 hauliers will lose their jobs due to the rates this year," he said. "We will also tell her that we now predict 26,000 jobs will go by 2002." Norris invited the Freight Transport Association to attend the meeting with Primarolo.
.1 Karen Dee, head of policy at the RHA, has been advised that UK hauliers can legally "flag out" their trucks to the Continent where truck taxes are dramatically lower. The RHA is taking further legal advice on this issue; it is also researching local 0-licence requirements, start-up costs and other restrictions and plans to issue a guidance document. Dee is looking closely at issues affecting drivers based on the Continent, such as registration and taxes. She is also looking into rumours that VED on 40tonners running on five axles could be set at more than ,C7,000 year.