CBI man condemns militancy
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in Hauliers booed the CBI director for Scotland, lain McMillan, after he accused them of displaying the sort of militancy associated with trdde unions in the 1970s.
"We don't support the sort of militancy which means holding the country to ransom." McMillan told RNA members at the annual dinner of the CBI's Scotland and Northern Ireland region in Glasgow. The government was right to stand firm—the ballot box is the answer" McMillan said the CBI recognises the importance of fast reliable delivery: "Transport is always at the top of the agenda." The CBI intends to present the government with its own proposals for fuel. but he warned that the after-effect of the protests is that "politicians will think that transport could be a vote loser but never a vote winner".
Val Smith, new RHA regional chairman for Scotland and
Northern Ireland, said: ''Sometimes you ask does the Prime Minister or Chancellor know the price of fuel? They do now. And so does every chauffeur-driven head of government in Europe."
She called for investment in driver training. "The average age for HGV drivers is 52...there is a grave shortage
of professional Qualihed drivers in some areas of the country." Last month Smith organised a protest of hauliers outside Stormont which coincided with an emergency motion supporting the hauliers and farmers which received crossparty support.