Welsh tippermen strike at McAlpine
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• Hauliers have gone on strike at two Alfred McAlpine quarries in Wales over rates.
The 35 owner-operators at the Torcoedfawr and Llandybie sites near Swansea withdrew their trucks after failing to reach agreement with managers on Monday night.
They say they have not had an increase for at least five years and are demanding a rise of 25%, "but we'll settle for a reasonable figure" says spokesman Eric Morgan.
He adds that the strike is 100% solid and that drivers are prepared to stay out for several weeks.
"But I hope it won't come to that. We hope they'll come back to us," he says.
None of the drivers at the quarries are members of the Road Haulage Association or National Hauliers Association, says Morgan — the NHA has been involved in organising disputes at several RMC and Tarmac pits.
McAlpine says it has paid its hauliers a 5% fuel bonus in recent months to help with fuel price rises in the wake of the Gulf crisis.
It adds that it is in negotiations with drivers' representatives, and that several of its own trucks at each of the quarries are still working.