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Foreign overtime fear
Page 13
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TRADL UNIONISTS in Manchester are worried that any moves by hauliers to employ more EU drivers will result in a big cut in pay for their UK colleagues.
Jack Crossfield, secretary of the Transport & General Union's Manchester branch.says members have already expressed fears that if firms use more foreign drivers the existing workforce will lose lucrative overtime money.
He explains: "We have no objection toEuropean drivers working here — obviously that is part of being in the EU — but clearly it is a serious problem for British drivers if it results in their wage packet being substantially cut.
Crossfield adds that employing Continental drivers at the basic rate of pay would simultaneously help operator comply with the Working Time Directive and save them money on wages, because basic pay costs less than overtime. "We don't mind this happening in some ways, but it does seem very unfair if the price that some British drivers pay for the Working Time Directive is to have their pay packets heavily cut," he says.
For some drivers, however, it is already clear that Crossfield's fears are unfounded.
Last year nearly 1,000 Co-op drivers were given a staged 35% increase in their hourly pay in preparation for the WTD.
A similar increase has been given to some 900 waste collection drivers employed by Biffa Waste Services; Castle Cement has also already agreed a deal with its drivers.
Unions would like hourly pay rises like these to prove the norm as firms comply with the directive, although many companies have yet to announce their intentions. The WTD comes into force in March 2005.