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Productivity talks start
Page 40
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• Mr. Ray Gunter, Minister of Labour, has started a round of talks on productivity in road haulage, writes our industrial correspondent.
The Minister was seeing Transport and General Workers' Union leaders yesterday (Thursday) to look at recent Prices and Incomes Board proposals for improved output and the reduction in working hours proposed by the Transport Bill. Further meetings have been arranged with the Scottish Commercial Motormen on Monday and the road haulage employers on Tuesday.
Implementation of the productivity proposals, probably involving a longer standard working week, have been made more urgent by the Liverpool dispute. Any settlements on Merseyside are bound to be taken as a precedent for elsewhere in the country.
There is also the pledge of the TGWU to negotiate company-by-company following the rejection at the Road Haulage Wages Council of its claim for £1 a week all-round rises. The union has its sights on at least £16 for the 40-hour week so considerable productivity concessions are needed to cover the increased costs involved.
Meanwhile, peace moves are likely in the Esso tanker drivers' dispute (CM last week). Talks between the oil company and the TGWU are being arranged.
An Esso spokesman says: "There are no difficulties over supplies. This is more an inconvenience than anything else. It means that work is not continuing as efficiently as it could."