Pay row goes to ACAS
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by Karen Miles • Tibbett & Britten's Transcare is this week trying to head off the possibility of industrial action among its workforce by discussing a pay dispute with conciliation service ACAS.
The move to ACAS delights the United Road Transport Union, which represents 280 of Transcare's drivers and warehouse staff—roughly half the workforce: "It means that at the eleventh hour we have a chance to sort out this problem," says URTU officer Stan Parkinson,
Although the ACAS meeting stalls an immediate ballot on industrial action, URTU says if the talks fail its members will remain free to hold a vote.
The dispute follows an offer by the Marks & Spencer distribution contractor of a 2.1% pay rise and a maximum £250 lump sum. The offer was rejected last month by both of Transcare's URTU depots at Rochdale and Durham.
The rejection came despite recommendations from both URTU and the Transport & General Workers Union to accept the offer. The offer has been accepted at Transcare's depots at Enfield, Leicester and East Kilbride, which are represented by the TGWU.
Transcare managing director Kim Sainsbury is optimistic about the ACAS meeting. However, he says two depots cannot opt out of the results of a national ballot.
"We have a joint national agreement with both unions and we do not negotiate on an individual basis," he says.