NODA celebrates victory at Redland
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by David Harris
• Owner-drivers working for Redland Readymix are celebrating this week after the company capitulated in the dispute over recognition of the drivers' association.
The month-long non co-operation campaign of the National Association of Owner Drivers (NODA) erupted when Redland said it was going to de-recognise NODA. NODA's six-point action plan was backed by 76% of Redland's 200 owner-drivers. It included a reduction of waiting time to 30 minutes, after which drivers tipped loads where customers said or returned to Redland, and limiting transfer work—where drivers work temporarily from depots other than the one they are assigned to.
NODA general secretary Mick Binns is delighted with Redland's climb-down, but strikes a conciliatory note. He says: "From our point of view it is obviously a great success. I think that the measures we took put Redland under a lot of pressure but now we want to get on with our work and the business of re-building business relationships. The company has realised it cannot just pretend we do not exist."
RedLand had tried to over-ride the drivers' association by offering drivers twice-yearly meetings as an alternative. It also drew up new contracts that gave it the right to vary hauliers' rates and contained no reference to NODA.
A Redland spokesman says it now recognises NODA, but nobody at the firm would comment further this week.