linkman dispute settled
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• About 550 drivers at Linkman Tankers have accepted a pay and conditions freeze until 1993, ending four months of negotiations and threats of 25% pay cuts at the Transport Development Group subsidiary.
The results of the ballot, which was held over the weekend, came in as Commercial Motor went to press. Drivers at Manchester and Rotherham settled earlier this month and the Transport & General Workers Union had recommended that drivers at the seven remaining depots should vote in favour of the proposals.
It is believed that the proposals include Linkman management agreeing to enter 1993 pay talks in the first week of October at all of the nine depots. Management is also believed to have promised to set up a national negotiating structure to discuss all non-pay items, including drink and drugs testing.
The TGWU met management last Thursday "in a last ditch
effort to avoid industrial action" (CM 20-26 Aug). Now it hopes that the deal will lay foundations for better results next year.
"I don't think any of the lads are happy to accept a freeze, but it's the best of a bad job", says Allan Gray, TGWU district organiser at the Middlesbrough office. "At least it's a status quo for this year and hopefully it will help get better results next year."
Gray understands that the 100 drivers at the Middlesbrough depot he represents accepted the deal unanimously, but he was waiting to have this confirmed.
Drivers there faced a basic pay cut from £212 to £148 for a 40-hour week, taking the minimum wage, including overtime, down to £185.
He is pleased that the drivers have decided against industrial action.
This has been a possibility since July with many hauliers concerned about the effect of a dispute on other tanker firms.