South Wales strike looms
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THE THREAT of a haulage strike still looms over South Wales, where the Transport and General Workers' Union says relatively few operators have responded to its claim for a £90 basic rate at company level.
TGWU officer Geoff Jacob said this week that around six operators have settled in his Ebbw Vale district, and said this suggested a maximum of about 50 throughout South Wales. "Clearly a majority has not settled," he conceded.
But the union is not giving up its struggle against the Road Haulage Association, which has made no offer on behalf of its members, and a meeting of trade union negotiators has, been called for March 17. Mr Jacob said that would probably recommend industrial action, almost certainly a strike, against companies which have not settled.
It is also attempting to resolve the impasse with the help of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
A meeting has still to be arranged between employers and unions in Tyneside and Cumbria, where the employers' last offer was rejected, but RHA Northern manager Denis Le Conte was confident on Tuesday that this would be arranged by the weekend.
Two more settlements have been reached. In the East Midlands (CM, February 26), the top weight basic rate is now £89.60 with 50p additional subsistence, and in Sheffield it is £90 (ex-E86) with subsistence rising by 25p to £10.25.
Tanker drivers are edging towards final settlement, with Shell and Texaco having agreed a seven per cent increase to £121.45 basic pay. BP's 1,600 drivers have rejected a 6.4 per cent offer, and although no meeting with management had been arranged by Tuesday this week, there was no fear of industrial action.