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Concern over !dam redundancies
Page 4
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• The union recognition agreement at Cheshire haulier James Ham & Son has suffered a setback after just four months following the management's decision to axe jobs without prior consultation.
James Irlam, which was finally forced to recognise the United Road Transport Union last year; has made 11 nightshift drivers redundant from its depot at Grantham, Lincs.
There have also been up to 17 temporary lay-offs at Normanton, West Yorks, but most of these drivers are expected to be taken back on by the end of the month.
Ham's solicitor Jonathon Backhouse points out that the company had no legal obligation to notify the union if there were fewer than 20 redundancies. "Irlam is not in breach of any trade union legislation here," he stresses.
But URTU national negotiator Roy Abrahams says he is "very disappointed" by the company's failure to consult the union before declaring the job cuts, even if it was not legally obliged to do so.
"We are not saying there is no need for redundancies but if the company wants to avoid the possibility of being taken to employment tribunals it would be in its interests to consult us," said Abrahams.
In September 2001 James Irlam became the first large haulier to be forced to recognise a union since the Employment Relations Act was introduced in 1999.
• URTU is also taking up the case of Ham driver Michael Peasey who is in dispute with management at the Normanton depot over his holiday entitlement.
A meeting is due to take place between a union representative and Ham depot manager Alex Blair on 19 January.