Big rates rise to follow drivers pay
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-IAULIERS throughout the country are 'aced with going to their customers to isk for a 17-18 per cent rate increase.
A large part of this increase is directly iue to wage settlements now being made ifter the recent month-long strike. These ;ettlements vary around the regions from -.:ompany to company.
In the Western RHA region, the focal 3oint of the arbitration later to be natiolally adopted by the RHA, most companies have settled at the recommended E:64 for 40 hours basic. But improvements .n fringe benefits can mean almost a 20 per cent increase on average earnings.
Sheffield RHA region reports that most 3f its members have settled for £64. The general feeling was that the operators had done "fairly well" in the negotiations. Dnly one operator in the area had seen fit to cancel his RHA membership!
Metropolitan and South Eastern area members are balloting by post and expect the results next week. The likely outcome is that most members will be paying £65 basic per week.
In the Manchester area and in the Eastern RHA region, the majority of operators have already settled at the higher figure.
Fringe benefits have also been renegotiated in most settlements, and when these are taken into account, average earnings have risen by approximately 20 per cent. Much of this increase is being passed on to the hauliers' customers in the rates charged.
The annual rates review due on January 1 had been postponed until news of a wages settlement. Before the dispute, many hauliers were planning to increase their rates by 10 to 12 per cent, but they are now thinking in terms of 17 to 20 per cent.