Contract strike threat
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Elizabeth Daly • Third-party operator Calor Transport has threatened to sack 52 staff in mid December if they do not sign personal contracts with the company.
The ultimatum follows the rejection by the workforce, 33 to 19, of the latest offer negotiated by the Transport & General Workers Union and management. Letters were sent to employees on 14 October to sign the contracts or their employment will be terminated on 17 December, a week before Christmas.
According to TGWU national secretary for road transport Danny Bryan, the personal contracts will leave employees between £50 to £70 a week worse off through substantial cuts in holiday pay, basic rates and other allowances.
Bryan says: "When the company's attempt to negotiate pay rates down were rejected they simply issued the ultimatum on personal contracts with the stipulated threat that if you don't sign, you're sacked. However, they are mistaken to think this is the end of the story."
The official statement from the company reads: "Calor Transport has no comment to make regarding anything remotely affected with industrial relations now, or in the future".