AAX Pay package sets the pate
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A DRIVERS' PAY deal was signed and sealed by an assenting hauliers group late on Tuesday night — the first settlement in the latest round of wage negotiations.
The package — which includes a five per cent pay increase and a new overnight subsistence level of £5.50 — could well set the pattern for the rest of the country.
It was agreed between the powerful Birmingham branch of the Transport and General Workers Union, led by Alan Law, and the West Midlands assenting hauliers.
CM understands that sur prisingly the deal does not include any of the "fringe benefits" which have been set as targets by the union's national council.
Claims for improved benefits have already proved to be stumbling blocks in other areas and are holding up final agreement.
A spokesman for the West Midlands hauliers said that only pay and subsistence is covered by the deal.
It will give drivers between £2.50 and £4.00 extra a week depending on how much they earn at the moment.
The new subsistence level was agreed despite a union claim for £7,00 overnight. A the £5.50 payment will inclu the following day's me allowance.
Holiday pay will be 50 hot basic rate, plus the £6 p award unconsolidated frc last year and five per cent the total.
Bank holidays will be paid the rate of 10 hours basic To plus £1.20.
In Scotland, which is usual the first area to settle, the de is being held up by a sickne scheme claim which the unic has made.
The Scottish Joint Industri Council chairman, Mr Stua Dunlop, said that ti employers are submitting tl claim, which covers the pa ment of wages during perio, of illness, to the assentir hauliers.
They had agreed to do tfi even though they found unacceptable.
However, a claim for non-contributory accidei insurance scheme, coverir death and injury, had bet agreed and would be brougl in on February 1 next year.
It would be left up to ea( individual firm to arrange a scheme and if they alreac held better insurance covi than that laid down by a agreement then it would Tic apply.
Mr Dunlop said that a pa rise claim of 5 per cent ha been accepted, but the unior were asking for £7 a nig!. subsistence. "We have offere a £1 increase on what they ai getting at the moment f( overnights."
The TGWU national counc put forward a 10-point pa claim (CM October 22) included an occupational per sion scheme and four week holiday.
Other points were a short( working week with no loss ( pay, job security, compulsor insurance cover, better star dards of health and safet, non-contributory sickness an accident schemes and th speedy setting up of lorr routes.