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TNT DEFENDED

4th October 2001, Page 20
4th October 2001
Page 20
Page 21
Page 20, 4th October 2001 — TNT DEFENDED
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

i was disappointed to read the comments by Maurice Britton about the Working Time Directive in the 'Sound Off' article (CM6-12 Sept).

Most of the Transport & General Workers Union regional industrial organisers are well-informed and have helped to create and maintain the first-class partnership agreement that TNT enjoys with the union. At the very least they always have enough grasp of the basic facts to credibly represent the views of their members.

So it is very surprising that Maurice has seemingly not bothered to talk to the TNT employees he represents in Bradford before Sounding Off. If he had engaged in positive dialogue with our workers, he would perhaps have realised that: • TNT trunk drivers do not unload their vehicles at our sortation hubs. After performing vehicle checks and relevant paperwork they are free to rest and dine in pleasant conditions, use the shower etc.

• TNT Class I drivers are certainly not a "cheap form of labour". Intact, with an average salary 20% higher than drivers in similar jobs elsewhere, they are among the highest earners in our industry.

Our drivers do not spend "a substantial portion of their time waiting around to be tipped and loaded". Certainly no more than 15% of a 10-hour night shift. Our central sortation hub at Kingsbury Link is one of the most efficient in the express delivery industry and our trunking schedule is carefully designed to minimise 'driver dead time'. However if Maurice thinks his management techniques could help us tip and reload 220 13.6m trailers in less than the six hours we currently achieve, I would be delighted tc receive a new and improved trunking schedule from him!

Even if a full trailer was available for our TNT Durham driver to take back to the NorttEast within minutes of arriving the hub, he could only completE his four-hour return journey in the proposed eight-hour night by breaking tachograph legislation. Is Maurice aware that drivers must take a minimum 45-minute break after driving for 4.5 hours?

Finally, it is by no means a foregone conclusion that "ther will be provision in the Working Time Regulations for the working time to be extended tc 10 hours during the night'.

Maurice's recommendatior that "it is high time companies such as TNT started engaging ii positive dialogue with their workers and the workers' representatives" is also nonsense. We have an extremely strong track record for dialogue with officials and lay representatives of the trade union We hold 12 divisional counci meetings per year to address

'orkforce issues, This dialogue as included working towards gher basic rates of pay to lake overtime less important, -odd the W7D come into ffect without modification. In addition, we have made averal presentations to, and old discussions with, TNT Shop tewards on the implications of ie WTD. TNT has also had weral additional meetings ith Bill Morris the General ecretary and Ron Webb, the ational Trade Group eoretary, on the subject of the orking Time Directive. 3rt Proctor,

irector of employee relation, VT LIK.

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Locations: Bradford

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