AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

X0 Grim future for the sleeper cab

29th October 1976
Page 4
Page 4, 29th October 1976 — X0 Grim future for the sleeper cab
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A GRIM FUTURE for the sleeper-cab was on the cards this week fallowing an announcement by the International Transport Workers' Federation that it wants all drivers' rest periods to be taken away from the vehicle.

The declaration is one clause in a new Social Charter agreed by the ITWF transport sub-committee last week which will form the basis of claims put forward on behalf of drivers all over Europe — and it could mean the end of double-manning. But the aims received only qualified support from Britain's union men, some of whom say that overnight stays in the cab are often spent in better conditions than if they used transport digs.

In Southampton, Transport and General Workers' Union official Mr George Gates said: "The members will say they would rather sleep in cabs which are clean than in dirty digs — they would rather sleep in their own dirt," he said.

"Double-manning is crazy, the members don't go much on that. As far as the lads are concerned we will be lookin at these proposals and may their voice will be heard k union headquarters," said N Gates.

In Ellesmere Port branc secretary Mr Stan Davies WC also unhappy about doubl manning. "It's no good at all he said. But on rest periods N Davies thought the aim would make little difference t hazardous load regulation which demand that breaks at spent within sight of the veh cle.

ITWF inland transpoi secretary Mr Johanne Hat told CM that the new chart' would also be calling for a time spent at the disposal c the employer to be counted e working time — and thz includes loading and unto& ing as well as rest periods.

The Federation will also h looking to set up machinery t enforce the charter o unwilling employers an governments. "There are di ferent collective agreement and we need to have a devic to enforce them," he said.

Now the charter will go t the ITWF conference in Dui lin next year for ratification.

It was given a warm we come by the United Roa Transport Union who see th clauses as backing up the own policy and call for an en to double-manning an sleeper-cabs.

URTU deputy gener secretary Mr Jack Hughe said: "This has been offici union policy for some dm' We are anti double-mannin — it can lead to a truck bein on the road for 20 hours wit one man sleeping while th other drives — and it's a legal," he said At CNI's Fleet Managemer Conference URTU generk secretary Mr Jackson Moor urged truck manufacturer! "Let's go back to a cab ft diving in, not one for sleepin in."

Other clauses in the chart( include a call for index-linke overnight allowances an more adequate legal assi tance for drivers in troubl when they are abroad.


comments powered by Disqus