Employers 'sensible' in wage bargainin
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HAULAGE DRIVERS' national union officer this week praised employers' response to the winter's wage claims, as the first settlements of around six per cent looked only a signature away, reports ALAN MILLAR.
Transport and General Workers Union commercial group secretary Jack Ashwell told CM on Tuesday that his fellow officers were satisfied by the progress of wage negotiations conducted mainly in port areas, and said that other areas have now been authorised to lodge their claims.
"The employers have been sensible and realistic, and we feel a new sense of reality has come from them,he said.
Substance for Mr Ashwell's claim comes from the Southern Joint Industrial Council, centred on Southampton, where drivers are being recommended to accept a 6.7 per cent increase in basic pay, from £90 to £96 for 32.5-tonners. This is in line with the £6 claim lodged in most areas, although Southern drivers sought a £7 increase.
Subsistence rises by 50p to £10.75, £1.50 less than the rise sought, and the fall-back maximum weekly pay rises from £95 to £100. The claim was for £105. No other items were conceded by hauliers, and the £7.50 supplement for 38-tonners remains as agreed earlier this year.
In the East Midlands, agreement has been reached for a 5.92 per cent increase in the 32.5 tonne rate to £94.90 from £89.60. Subsistence goes up by £1 to £11.50. There is a pro-rata rate for lower grades of driver, and negotiations on a 38-tonne supplement will continue.
The go-ahead for further wage claims has brought two more into employers. In the Eastern area, a E6 increase is being sought on all grades (32.5 tonne rate would be £95.25) and the union wants E2 extra on subsistence, taking it to £12.25. The claim also includes a reduction of at least one hour in the 40hour working week.
In Sheffield, where the top basic rate is £90, the claim is for a substantial increase on all grades, £2 on £10.25 subsistence, a 15 per cent 38-tonne supplement, an increase in accident and sickness benefit, and a gradual reduction of the working week to 35 hours.
Talks in Sheffield are being held on November 30, and other areas were meeting this week.
• Peace is spreading across the major oil companies' wage negotiations, too, with settlement reached at BP, likely agreement at Shell, and further talks at Texaco and Esso. The BP settlement is for a 4.5 per cent increase in basic pay and consolidates £2.50 of long service and holiday payments to take basic pay from £121.45 to £129.50, and includes an additional £65 payment to cover a shortfall on last year's pay.
At Shell, the consolidation of £2.50 bonus pay into a 4.5 per cent offer and retention of an £8 safe driving annual average payment has been enough to lift industrial action. Votes were to be held at terminal level.