Yes and no on wages
Page 6
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HAULAGE drivers in Liverpool and Devon and Cornwall have rejected employers' wage offers, but more settlements have been reached in West Cumbria, Southern England and North/Mid Wales.
Liverpool Transport and General Workers Union drivers, whose basic rates top the league for area agreements, have rejected £5.50 increases in their rates (CM, December 22/29, 1984) which would have set the 32.5 tonne rate at £105.50 and the 38 tonne rate at £109.50.
It was the employers' "final" offer, and it was not clear whether the employers wanted to negotiate further as we closed for press on Tuesday.
In Devon and Cornwall, trade union and employer representatives were meeting on Tuesday following drivers' rejection of a £4.90 increase in rates from February 1. That would have raised the 32.5 tonne rate to £100.
The Devon and Cornwall move follows the complete col lapse of negotiations in Western England (CM, December 15, 1984). Employers there have refused a further meeting with the TGWU.
The settlement reached in West Cumbria keeps rates there ahead of those which apply in other parts of Northern England. Basic rates go up by £5.50, the 32.5 tonne rate to £99. The 60p daily supplement for 38 tonne work goes up to 68p, taking the maximum weekly basic rate from £96.50 to £102.40. Subsistence rises by 50p to £11.25.
Southern England drivers have accepted a £5.50 deal which takes the 32.5 tonne rate from £96 to £101.50 and the 38 tonne rate to £109. Subsistence rises by 75p to £11.50, and the minimum fall-back earnings for drivers rises from £100 to £105.
In North and Mid Wales, a £5.50 deal has been concluded to take effect from February 1. It increases the 32.5 tonne rate to £99, the 38 tonne rate to £102.50, and a 50p increase in subsistence sets a new level of £11.50 a night.
The increase is worth more to drivers as the guaranteed week has been increased from 45 to 46.5 plain time hours by paying drivers 40 hours at basic rate and five at time-and-aquarter.
Other benefits have been reviewed in a national context, taking sickness benefit from £14 to £20, temporary total disablement accident benefit from £20 to £25, death/permanent total disablement benfit from £5,000 to £6,000, and a 50 per cent improvement in lump sum/severance payment establishes a scale of £405 to £2,025 payments, depending on length of service.
In Leeds and Bradford, where a £5.50 offer has been rejected, talks between both sides are continuing.