Tipper men show the way
Page 75
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SURVIVAL in today's tough economic climate was the theme behind the eleventh annual Road Haulage Association t,pper convention and show held at Harrogate last week.
But although there was plenty of bad news about rates and cuts in fleets there wasn't a tipper man to be found who was going to go down without a fight.
Insted they were rolling up their sleeves and preparing for action — and if that meant . changing the face of the Road Haulage Association then so much the better.
It was quite clear that the tipper operators were solidly behind the move to allow the RHA to negotiate on wages and conditions on behalf of its members.
The only complaint was ''why didn't we do it sooner".
They were left in no doubt by the Association's industrial relations officer, Mr C. Dixon, that the move would have dramatic implications.
If it was to be effective then it would need to be better organised and put up a more united front.
And that was alright with the tipper men too, for were they not leading the RHA on this with the setting up of the National Tipping Service?
IF no one else was prepared to help out the operators, and they had some hard things to say about the Government, then the operators would have to help themselves.
Suspicion and distrust between hauliers would have to be dispelled. So how about setting up a National Traffic Co-operation scheme?
Good idea! And while they were on the subject the tipper men also thought that the national committee should investigate the use of visual display computers to tell them where the work was.
As usual, rates were uppermost in everyone's mind and once again the call for unity met with a response.
Outside the conference hall in the exhibition area there was plenty to interest the customer and the enthusiast.
The overseas manufacturers made a big splash and out of the UK vehicle builders only British Leyland made any real effort to fight back. Ford was noticeable by its absence.
• A full report of both the convention and the show appears on the following four pages.