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T&G slams exemptions in work White Paper by Ian Wylie

28th May 1998, Page 7
28th May 1998
Page 7
Page 7, 28th May 1998 — T&G slams exemptions in work White Paper by Ian Wylie
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Road transport unions have given a lukewarm welcome to proposed reforms of trade union legislation, warning that thousands of drivers will still be denied representation.

The Government's longawaited Fairness at Work White Paper proposes that union recognition will be automatic if more than 50% of workers in a company are members. Otherwise, workers will win the right to recognition if at least 40% vote yes in a ballot.

But the Government says firms with fewer than 20 employees will be exempt—a concession which has angered the Transport & General Workers Union. "We are disappointed by the exclusion of smaller companies because that will have a direct effect on the number of people employed in road haulage," says national Officer Danny Bryan. "Why should a firm with 19 employees, all of whom are union members, be allowed to deny them union recognition?" Bryan is also critical of the 40% minimum set on recognition ballots which, he claims, employers will use to obstruct unions.

However, United Road Transport Union general-secretary David Higginbottom believes the White Paper could swell membership figures: "Many people have chosen not to join a trade union because their employer has not recognised it," he says. "But we can see more drivers signing up if there is a mechanism to ensure the union's voice is heard."

Employers' representatives, such as the CBI, have voiced concerns about automatic recognition, but haulage bosses have been more relaxed in their response.

"The nature of our industry requires more flexible working structures than other sectors, but we don't see anything in the White Paper to cause us concern," says the Freight Transport Association.

This view is echoed by Eddie Stobart, which has its own employee representation scheme. "We effectively have our own in house union arrangements so moving to trade union recognition and collective bargaining would not be a problem," says Stobart personnel manager Sheila Woodbridge. "But sometimes the introduction of a third party to negotiations can be detrimental to both employers and employees."

Key proposals in the White Paper include: • If more than 50% of a workforce are union members, recognition will be automatic. Otherwise there must be a workplace ballot and a minimum "yes" vote of 40%.

• Unions will get access to any company where there is at least one union member.

• All workers will have the right to be represented by a union official or a fellow employee in disciplinary or grievance procedures.

• Employees will be able to claim unfair dismissal at an industrial tribunal after one year instead of the current two years. The £12,000 limit on tribunal awards will be scrapped.

• Workers sacked for taking legal industrial action will be able to claim unfair dismissal at an industrial tribunal.

• Blacklisting of trade union activists will be made unlawful.


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