DELEGATE POWER!
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Report by Martin Huckett Photos by Steve Back
REG COOPER is an old hand when it comes to Road Haulage Association annual conferences — he's been to the last 19 without fail. So he knows what he is talking about when he gives his verdict on this year's conference held in Eastbourne last week.
"It was one of the best ever," said Reg, of Coopers Road Services (1972) Ltd. "They had some cracking good speakers but the two days have been really made by the members themselves."
It was a feeling which was echoed by one of the younger, and on his own admission more militant delegates.
"We have often criticised the RHA for going on its own sweet way and not paying enough attention to what the ordinary member has to say. But you couldn't fault them this year," he said.
For the first time in many years a motion was put from the floor of the conference and accepted by the chairman.
The National Council invited delegates to sit in and see how it went about its business.
One whole day was devoted to discussions on matters which the members wanted to raise. And they also had the chance to question the national officers.
Reg Cooper and his fellow delegates made good use of this new-found freedom.
Almost all the sessions had capacity audiences, and once the first speaker, Jim Mortimer, chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, had stirred them up with some comments on the Road Haulage Wages Council there was no stopping them.
The questions flowed thick and fast and it wasn't just the conference regulars who could be seen wanting the microphone.
With such a feeling of "delegate power" sweeping through the Grand Hotel, where the business sessions were held, it was hardly surprising that they strongly objected to a suggestion that the conference should be held once every two years. "Ridiculous," said Reg Cooper. "If they are all going to be like this let's make it a weekly conference!"
Indeed the delegates were so incensed by the idea that a motion was put from the floor "indicating to the National Council" that the conference remained in its present format. It was carried with only one vote against.
But the annual meeting wasn't all work. There were the regular features including the Monday golf tournament and the closing banquet and 'ball along with a chat from broadcaster David Jacobs.
There was some complaint from the wives that not enough had been organised for them this year and Jack Male, RHA chairman, promised that the organisers would see what they could do next year.
It will be interesting to see too whether the RHA takes note of the message which came over loud and clear from the delegates: that they want more of a chance to put their point of view.