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Power to the people
Page 20
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Can the unions change the VVTD by joining forces? Chris Tindall reports.
Viir' hcn Tony Woodley stood up and addressed a room full of delegates at the latest Transport and General Workers' Union conference, there was the distinct impression that he was preaching to a converted minority.
"These are interesting times," he observed. But is the rest of the UK's driver work force aware — or more importantly, even bothered — about the general secretary's self-confessed interest and concern over the effects of the Road Transport (Working Time) Directive?
To suggest the majority of the transport industry collectively breathed a sigh of relief when the government published its draft regulations on the WTD elicits a brusque response from the T&G's national road transport secretary, Ron Webb: "It's incorrect to say there's been a sigh of relief I trust you are not talking about our members — the vast numbers of workers feel betrayed."
But what else is there to think when evidence of mass disgruntlement among the nation's HGV drivers is lacking? Are we to believe that most drivers have not grasped the consequences of what will happen to them come March 2005, or are they of the opinion it seems to be a reasonably good deal under the circumstances?
The unions argue the answer is neitherlhey say their members are gnashing their teeth at the government's betrayal.The solution to this apparent mess is for the T&G and the United Road Transport Union to join forces; an action virtually unprecedented in recent times.
Alliance
"What can make a difference is URTU and the T&G," says Woodley. "This is a tremendous move in the right direction."
There was much puffing of chests and meaningless rhetoric at the T&G's headquarters last week. Yes, it may be an historic moment when two unions, which have invested a lot of energy battling each other in the past, put down their weapons and stand together for something they believe in. But theWTD is less than four months away. There's hardly time to breathe, let alone slap each other on the back for their solidarity.
-We are going to make our views known," says URTU general secretary Bob Monks."We are going to be using all our efforts industrially andwith the government.., this is about health and safety. This is about fatigue; ensuring people have the proper protection they need. The government has fudged the issue by listening to just employers. We will do our utmost to persuade the government they have got it fundamentally wrong."
And then there's the unions' mantra: a 48hour working week, with no loss of pay. Webb goes further and demands a f '75,000 minimum annual salary for every professional driver in the country. This is laudable,but the trade associations, while desperately trying not to be sucked into a confrontation, believe it is simply fanciful in the current economic climate.
"The trade associations have indicated they want a discussion with us in the next few weeks," says Webb. "We have lots of areas in common with the trade associations and we will continue to work where we have common objectives.This is one area where we have differing views." •