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Re-thinking on low-paid drivers' wages
Page 43
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from our industrial correspondent
• The Road Haulage Wages Council is to meet on Thursday to consider objections to its proposed new wages structure for the lowest-paid lorry drivers.
The 14 -day period for objections to the proposals expired on May 10. The RHWC will probably agree next week to forward its recommendations for approval by Mrs. Barbara Castle, Minister of Employment and Productivity.
The changes are unlikely to be brought into operation, however, before next month at the earliest.
Drivers who work at least 40 hours in the week and earn less than £15 will be paid either an extra £1 or a total of £15, whichever is less. The increase of £1 applies to workers aged 21 or over; for younger em ployees, the rise is 15s. These sums are included in overtime pay but do not count in computing overtime.
Two new wage categories are to be introduced—for vehicles over 21 tons and vehicles carrying abnormal indivisible loads of over 65 tons.
The Road Haulage Association has decided, meanwhile, to re-establish its working party which gave evidence to the Prices and Incomes Board as a sub-committee on increased productivity. It will study existing productivity agreements and try to lay down possible guide-lines for future negotiations. It will also investigate the possibilities of improving productivity in collection and deliveries.
Mrs. Castle has been asked to call a top-level meeting on productivity between the RHA and the unions; and the unions have urged a further meeting of the National Negotiating Committee. .
The RHA reports: "Demands by local trade union officials for improved earnings based on £16 for the lowest category vehicle for a 40-hour week, with scheduling at 40 mph, are growing."
Some agreements based on this rate are being examined by Mrs. Castle's Ministry to see whether they conform with the wages criteria. But few operators are likely, says the RHA, to be able to meet this basic rate without increasing charges.
Hauliers are urged in their negotiations with the unions, to make it clear that any upgrading in wages must be covered by savings in productivity; they have been asked to seek the co-operation of drivers and unions in making this possible.