RMC owner-drivers stay out on strike
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• There was no return to work at RMC (North West) this week, as the company's 66 owner-drivers decided to continue their all-out strike in support of sacked colleagues.
The dispute, which began in early December, centres around nine long-serving RMC owner-drivers on Merseyside who had their contracts with the company severed without warning following alleged "conflicts" in their day-to-day working patterns.
The National Owner Drivers' Association (NODA), which represents the sacked and striking drivers on Merseyside, and which negotiates with RMC across the country, is still calling for a formal meeting with RMC management to discuss the problem.
According to NODA secretary Mike Binns, RMC has so far only offered informal talks with the association. Binns is determined to see that any talks are held under the grievance procedure NODA and RMC have officially ratified to deal with such problems.
NODA has now held a meeting of all its regional RMC organisers and committee members and every RMC region has voiced support for the North West strike. "Several regions have already held meetings with local members to discuss the situation," says Binns, "and they have so far all voted to support the North West strike, with industrial action if necessary. Once all of the committees have voted for support, we will hold a national ballot for the drivers."
Binns reckons that a national ballot could be held within the next two weeks.