Industry pups
Page 5
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plan duty action
• by Robin Memos
The Road Haulage Association is considering a week-long parkup of trucks if Gordon Brown acts as predicted on 21 March and raises fuel duty by 2-3% above inflation,
At a meeting in Peterborough on Monday attended by the United Road Transport Union, the Freight Transport Association and Trans-Action, several delegates suggested the only way to get the government to help the industry was to halt deliveries across the UK.
Many of those present argued that the simple threat to park up would force the government's hand. Less controversially, plans were also agreed for another joint parliamentary lobby in a last-minute attempt to dissuade the Chancellor from raising duty before the Budget. This could include an urgent meeting with Treasury officials.
If this fails, joint group plans for the week of co-ordinated action will also include: • A number of "friendly" demonstrations; • Targeted lobbying of Labour MPs in marginal seats; • A series of vehicle rallies around the country.
RHA national chairman John Bridge said the action was needed because the key issue of fuel duty had been deliberately sidelined in the Industry Forum so far, with the government endlessly stalling.
"It would be easy for me to pretend the Forum is making progress," he said, "but we cannot continue to five with what is just spin-doctoring. We must continue to fight. If we don't, the government will continue to use 'this mechanism to raise taxes.'' But not everyone agreed with the decision to lobby Parliament first. David Higinbottom, general secretary of URTU, felt only direct action would succeed.
"Governments are very good at talking—it's what they get paid for," he said. "The only way to change this government's mind is by doing something drastic."
Bob Chneewlisky, of Somerset-based haulier RPC Transport, agreed: "I'm only trying to survive," he said. "Why won't the government listen to us? We should blockade London—that's where the argument is."
II UK truck operators aren't the only ones suffering high diesel prices. last week hundreds of American owner-drivers descended on Washington DC to protest at diesel pricks, which have virtually doubled to $2 a gallon in recent months—the equivalent of around £1.30.