Tankfreight drivers offered lump sum
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• Tankfreight is offering around 300 non-petroleum drivers a £225 lump sum for the rest of the year, instead of a percentage pay rise.
The company also wants the drivers to accept a pay freeze between 1 January and 5 July this year.
The Transport & General Workers Union expects the chemical and edible goods drivers will reject the deal in a ballot which will be counted this week. TGWU regional trade group officer Jim Gouldbourne says the drivers would be much better off with a percentage pay increase: "After tax has been taken out of the £225 there will not be a lot left for the drivers," says Gouldbourne.
"They would be much better off with a percentage increase which would cover overtime, holiday and sickness pay ments. And it would give us a higher figure to start bargaining from in next year's pay talks," he adds.
Another 75 drivers carrying other non-petroleum goods for Tankfreight will not be covered by the deal. Gouldbourne says he has put in a "substantial pay claim" for them.
Tankfreight says the lump sums would be introduced alongside a re-structured reward mechanism. Working parties of management and union shop stewards should come to an agreement on these proposals in November.