inion 'victimisation' Forces firm to shut
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CAMBRIDGESHIRE road haulier is giving up business in the termath of the lorry drivers' strike, following union action hich has stopped a lucrative backloading contract.
John Norman of Ely-based Norman and Son, plans to II 13 of his 14-vehicle fleet, rowing his 19 drivers out of ork. He claims that he is .ing victimised because several of his drivers are not members of the Transport and General Workers' Union.
He further claims that men at Unilever's Unimills at Erith in Kent have refused to load soya bean extracts (which he used for animal feeds) since January 10.
He told CM: "I have got all of my vehicles working, but they are losing their main contract and the backloads. If you lose your backloads, you lose your profits."
He alleged that a union strike fund official had sought a "donation" of £25 to £200 towards funds, but TGWU officials deny this.
Local district officer Paul Bonython told CM that he has asked Mr Norman to substantiate his allegations, but he has consistently refused to do this.
Mr Norman says that he is paying his drivers wages in excess of the locally-agreed £65 level, but Mr Bonython says that his members have told him otherwise.
Mr Bonython told CM: "I have written to him requesting details of the wages he is paying the drivers, but he refuses to divulge this."
Mr Norman said: "I could look around and build up new business, but no sooner would I do this, and 'Mr Union Man' would be out to break me again."