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North-West Wages Crisis

3rd April 1936, Page 50
3rd April 1936
Page 50
Page 50, 3rd April 1936 — North-West Wages Crisis
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A GREEMENT on wages has been reached, says a statement issued by those concerned, between the C.NI.U.A., Manchester Area, representing employers .in the Manchester, Salfori and Trafford Park Docks area, and representatives of the Transport and -General -Workers 'Union and the United Road Transport Workers Association.

As from the first pay-day in April. Grade 1 wages shall be paid by all A and B-licence operators in those areas, and they Lhall put into-force the working conditions -contained in the interim agreement of the NorthWestern Conciliation Board, dated April -24, 1935. -In all -cases where a vehicle from .a lower-rated area is operating in 'the distriets concerned, the men employed shall be paid Grade 1 wages -for the whole journey. It is understood, concluded the statement, that -a final agreement will be drawn up at an early date, embodying working conditions relative to the Manchester, -Salford and Trafford Park Dods area.

Negotiations were opened with the unions following upon a Manchester

meeting, which was attended by representatives cf the A.R.O., East Lanes Area. Strong opposition has, however, been expressed to The Commercial Motor 1 y a prominent A.R.O. official, regarding this agreement with the unions. It is understood that the C.M.U.A. SouthEast -Lanes Area is also in opposition. The SE. Lanes Area covers many places close to Manchester, but outside the 'Grade 1 area.

Similar communications to that which led to the meeting with the Manchester C.M.U.A. were sent by the unions-to other C.M.U.A. areas in the North-West, also to all other employers' associations. The letter. stated that the -unions were anxious to exercise evens possible means for settlement -before-issuing%notices to their members and were prepared to arrange a joint meeting with any of the associations concerned.

As the result, the Lancashire -and c28 Cheshire Group of Road Transport Employers arranged a meeting with the union representatives to take place yesterday (Thursday). The Lancashire and Cheshire Group is representative of the operators' organizations throughout the North-Western area and meetings of the constituent bodies were held early this week with the object of instructing the group delegates upon the attitude to -be adopted. It is understood that in . several cases strong opposition was expressed to any agreement to operate the " higher-rating" clause.

This Clause is of especial .importance to many of the districts concerned, as the balk of the North-Western area is on interim grading as Grade 2 (with Grade 3 in certain districts). In Liverpool it appears that Grade 1 or higher wages are already being paid, whilst, according to the decision of the appeals committee, Grade 1 should now also be paid for Manchester, Salford and

Trafford Park. It is to this latter award that the C.M.U.A. Manchester Area has agreed.

When the present difficulties have been settled, it would he necessary for the Area Board to complete final grading for the whole territory.

If an agreement were not reached at yesterday's meeting, a union representative informed The Commercial Motor, action is likely to follow on Monday. The unions are working jointly to establish ,agreements strictly in accordance with the appeal committee's award, and, he stated, nothing that is outside that decision would be acceptable.

It is reported that pickets have been warning employees running into Manchester and Liverpool districts (from outside areas that have not agreed to the award) that strike action would be taken against employers who operate cross-grade traffic without accepting the "higher-rating " clause. . Pickets at Liverpool. docks are stated to have in• formed drivers fromoutside areas that, urileas the award was-operated by 'the drivers' emplcyers, the dockers wtiuld refuse 'to liandle. loads.

NEW A.R.O. SUBSCRIPTIONS.

On Wednesday, a new schedule of subscription rates for A,R.O. members came into force. Hauliers, ancillary users and passenger-vehicle operators now have to pay £1 Is. entrance fee and an annual subscription (including one vehicle) of £2 2s. A levy of 7s. 6d. is made for each additional vehicle.

Light-vehicle members, owning goods motors not exceeding 10 cwt. carrying capacity or passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats, are not required to pay an entrance fee. The annual subscription (including one vehicle) is £1 is., with a charge of 7s. 6d. for each additional vehicle.

Clearing houses may become Members on payment of an annual subscription of £10 10s. for concerns with .One branch, and £5 5s. for each additional branch. The annual subscription for associate members is £2 2s. Maximum subscriptions for membership of one section are £26 5s., and in the case of two or more sections £42.

These new rates do not include the facility, previously offered, of the presentation of licence applications at a maximum fee of 16s. A new licensing scheme is, however, being arranged, Mass Action Against Ulster Board.

Concerted action in connection with considerations to be paid by the Northern Ireland Transport Board to operators -whose undertakings are conepulsorily acquired, is to be taken by members of the Provincial Hauliers Association. Members will not settle individually on any offer made by the Board.

Dissatisfaction is expressed with the formulw adopted for ,arriving ;at the value of vehicles and the assessment of profits.

Prominent Speakers at Liverpool C.M.U.A. Meeting.

Various aspects of the problems confronting the industry are to he discussed by Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman Allen, M.P., Col. A. Jerrett and Mr. F. G. Bristow at an open meeting, ur.der the auspices of the C.M.U.A. Liverpool and North Wales Division, on April 6; at the Tudor Restaurant, Lewis's, Ltd., Renshaw Street, Liverpool, at 7.30 p.m. Major James Bennett will take the chair.

Another Move for Lower Tax.

In the hope of securing the repeal.of the emergency tax on petrol, members of A.R.O. Boston Sub-area z • • se-eking the aid of the local Members of Parliament, At a sub-area committee meeting at Boston, recently, a resolution was pared and directed to he sent to Sir James Blindell, Lord Willoughby, and Mr. H. C. Haslam.

Wages Position Statement.

The wages position is to he the subject of a statement at a C.M.U.A. Maechester Area meeting at the .Malt Shovel Hotel, Altrincham, on •April te, at 7.30 p.m. Mr. W. E. Maevee-Mr. H. H. Lapsley -and Mr, W.

ton will be amongst,the speakers.


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