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Birmingham hauliers fear unofficial strike

25th March 1966, Page 25
25th March 1966
Page 25
Page 25, 25th March 1966 — Birmingham hauliers fear unofficial strike
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By a Special Correspondent

MANY Birmingham hauliers fear that unofficial action may be taken by their drivers in an attempt to obtain pay increases which would bring them into line with the arbitration award of 30s. a week made to employees of Millichamp Haulage Ltd., of Stechford, Birmingham. Drivers there staged an 11-week unofficial strike last autumn in support of a £2-a-week claim to act as a Birmingham "differential" to counteract high living costs in the city.

One company director said this week: "I hear from unofficial sources that an all-out effort will be made by drivers in the next few weeks to get their wages into line with the Millich amp award. This would be extremely serious because the national 3 per cent award which is in the pipe line at the moment will go on top of the local differential. No account is taken by the national machinery of local pay awards".

Mr. Alan Law, regional commercial trade group secretary of the TGWU, has circulated his members with the terms of the Millichamp arbitration. In his notes the arbitrator records that he received an assur

ance from the union that no efforts would be made to get other companies to make similar awards.

At least one other hrm—F. Lewis and Sons, of Aston—is now paying the differential following an unofficial two-day strike of its drivers a fortnight ago. The management negotiated with a union official and the men went back after the firm agreed to pay an additional 30s.

I understand that there is a large unofficial fund available to finance unofficial stoppages over demands for the differential. The strikers at Lewis and Sons could have held out for two months.

Settlement after strike

THE strike over the dismissal of a shop steward at J. Brevitt Ltd., of Willenhall, ended on Monday. The man was alleged to have been gardening while on duty. Agreement was reached between the 13 strikers and the management through the TGWU and the RHA.

The sacked steward, Mr. George Night

ingale, who recommended the return to work, will receive two weeks' pay in lieu of notice from the management. The firm has agreed that in future the union and the RHA will be consulted before any union member is dismissed. In addition a meeting is to be held to establish an agreed procedure for settlement of disputes.

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Locations: Birmingham

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