38-tonne wage rates
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EASTERN ENGLAND employers are confident of reaching agreement on enhanced wage rates for drivers of 38-tonne lorries, but no agreement has yet been reached in Scotland.
Trade unions represented on the Eastern Joint Industrial Council have agreed to recommend acceptance of an offer of £5.50 on top of the £89.25 top weight basic for drivers of 32.5 tonners.
Overtime, holiday pay, and redundancy benefits would be increased on a pro-rata basis, and the entire deal will apply from the time 38-tonners are introduced to fleets in the region.
Scottish hauliers last week offered to increase the top rate by 93p (one per cent) in line with the existing tonnage breaks for drivers of vehicles up to 32.5 tonnes.
While Road Haulage Associa tion Scottish manager Tom Brattin told CM that this offer was "realistic" and Transport and General Workers Union officer Willie Brand acknowledged it was a "serious endeavour" to build something into the present agreement, Mr Brand said the union had rejected it as being "out of touch with reality".
He has asked for another meeting with the RHA, and is also to have talks with the Scottish Freight Company, to try to agree an interim wage supplement of around £3 for drivers of heavier vehicles.
But he dismissed as "codswallop" some employers' suggestions that drivers were threatening industrial action in pursuit of a 38 tonne claim, as drivers of lower weight vehicles like 16 ton tippers would be unlikely to participate in such action.
Whatever happens this summer must only be a prelude to more exciting times next winter when new wage rates must be agreed which will reflect the rise in the maximum gross weight.