Improving relations
Page 4
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SINCE his appointment as director-general of the Road Haulage Association, Freddie Plaskett has done a great deal to restructure and reorganise the organisation. Success in two sectors is apparent.
The replacement of areas by districts has trimmed the administrative costs. The insurance scheme has brought benefits to the membership. We are less confident over the development of Cargofax — probably the least important of the issues Mr Plaskett faces.
Certainly much more important is the news this week that the Association is shortly to initiate an in-house debate on its relationship with the trade unions.
In relative terms there is nothing more time-consuming for employers than wage negotiations. This is a matter which would be best handled at national level.
Why should there be different wages and conditions across the industry for similar work on identical vehicles?
Mr Plaskett has enough ability and experience in other spheres to handle joint employer/trade union discussions nationally. He may even have considered inviting union officials to attend RHA Industrial Relations Committee meetings as observers. This is a move which would surely indicate that the employers were genuinely interested in stable industrial relations.
We urge the RHA membership to participate actively in the formation of its industrial relations policy.