• Lorry drivers are to be paid a minimum of
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lb lOs a week from mid-October; this represents an increase of over 40 per cent on present statutory wages and conforms with the TUC-approved rate as well as equalling the figure currently being demanded by unions in the local authority dispute.
The new rates, which were proposed by the Wages Council and ratified by the Minister for Employment and Productivity, raise by £.5 ls 6d the present minimum 40hour rate of £ 11 8s bd for drivers of vehicles up to 5 tons. Drivers of vehicles of 21 tom and over will get £18 17s 6d.
Drivers working in the London area wil continue to get 5s a week extra but th< current £2 a week guarantee for earning5 below £16 a week will be absorbed.
Commenting that most of Britain'5 200,000 road haulage drivers are already paid considerably more than the nevi minima, the RHA says it hopes thai company wage bills will not rise too rapidly and that there will not be consequentia claims at local level.