URN suggests joint pay push
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by Karen Miles I Protests over proposed wage freezes in the North-East could result in joint action from drivers attempting to boost their bargaining position.
The suggestion was made last week by the United Road Transport Union, which claimed drivers are taking the brunt of unreasonable pressure from British Steel at Scunthorpe, which wants to reduce haulage rates.
The possibility of a united front comes as URTU prepares to ballot members at a major British Steel Scunthorpe haulier over strike action.
URTU northern divisional officer Roy Abrahams says: "All the hauliers we speak to say they can't afford wage increases because of British Steel. "Maybe we should look to co-ordinate our own and Transport and General Workers Union membership in Scunthorpe to see if there's anything we could do to put on pressure."
Consolidated Land Services, Thompson Freight Services, Clugston Distribution and Ernest Thorpe are all believed to favour wage freezes: they all decline to comment.
British Steel says: "We're always trying to be as efficient as we can... but we don't think we're trying to stand on anyone's head to climb out of the water ourselves."
The ballot at Consolidated Land Services, a major steel haulier, will ask the 70 drivers whether they are prepared to take industrial action, including a strike, in order to block a wage freeze.
It is also believed that discussions are continuing over proposals at Thompson Freight Services to slash its wage bill. The company employs around 40 drivers and warehouse staff, some of them for the British Steel plant.