Partial lift of Heatons blacking
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• Following representations by drivers of Heatons Transport, of St Helens, to Liverpool dockers, there were high hopes that the blacking of the company's general cargo vehicles at the docks would be lifted yesterday. The drivers told their fellow TGWU members that the blacking, which has already cost the union £55,000 in fines, was no longer a viable weapon — and that they, the drivers, were the only people suffering from the continued illegal action of the dockers.
Mr R. Heaton jnr, joint managing director of the company, visited Liverpool on Thursday of last week and told the dockers that so far as he was concerned he did not intend to take any further action to resolve the situation. Last Friday a dockers' shop steward, Mr Tony Rafferty, telephoned Mr Heaton following the drivers' representation. He pointed out that although he appreciated that if the blacking was lifted Heatons could not apply for a further injunction at the National Industrial Relations Court, his members were not fully aware of this situation, and he requested Mr Heaton to give him an assurance in writing on these lines.
Heatons Transport has stated that provided the dockers refrain from taking illegal action against its vehicles the company will not seek further injunctions at the NIRC. The dockers are reported to have considered the use of the word "illegal" to be "a bit strong", but have accepted the assurance. In the circumstances, general cargo was expected to be moving today.
Mr Heaton told CM this week that the container question has, however, still to be resolved. He emphasized that his company has never been involved in grou page traffic. Heatons lease warehousing space to manufacturers to store and stuff bulk loads. It is normal practice to regard such facilities as an extension of the manufacturer's premises.
It is understood that this week the dockers met officials of the TGWU at the Labour Party Congress in Blackpool to discuss this point. The union is believed to be standing firm on its contention that the warehousing space is not regarded as manufacturers' premises and that any containers packed there will continue to be blacked at the port.