Union slams NFT 'bullies'
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• NFT Distribution has :_)en accused of "bully-boy" tactics for bringing in agency staff to get round its drivers' rejection of a new national agreement.
The United Road Transport Union believes this is the first time a major distribution company has employed agency drivers to sort out industrial relations problems. But NFT says it has used agency drivers for many years and will continue to do so.
At least five drivers from the Driving Edge agency have been brought into NFT's Whitefield, Greater Manchei,t yr depot.
Drivers there claim the agency staff are earning £3.90 an hour even on Sundays. when NFT's own drivers earn £9, but this is denied by Driving Edge.
Up to 25 agency drivers are expected to be employed at NFT's Crick depot. The new Alfreton site, which opened under the conditions rejected nationally, is expected to take on about 10 agency drivers. These moves follow TGWU drivers' rejection of a national deal which, the union says, would have cut wages by 5°0. Negotiations continue next week.