Union 'protection' cards incense RHA
Page 3
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
E ROAD Haulage Association has reacted bitterly to unofficial ion by Transport and General Workers' Union members in Liver01, Hull and Manchester, writes MIKE RUTHERFORD.
The TGWU in Liverpool set the nd by issuing some 750 ideny cards to drivers employed by stablished" hauliers in the ea. Passes are being checked container depots and termiIs and if drivers do not have rds, they are being turned ay or are only allowed to und and leave with empty hides.
The card system is also erating in Hull and Manchesr and is expected to come into Irce at Southampton from onday. Leeds, Birmingham, id parts of Eastern England are :pected to use the controver31 system in the near future.
Chairman of the Union's road insport section in Liverpool, mry Bradley, says that the heme has been introduced lely to project jobs among lion members. It is felt that te-cutting and "cowboy" lerations are detrimental to Dse members.
"If we get commonsense long haulage rates, we will lp the situation," says Mr 3dley.
ihe system has not gained icial union backing, but Mr adley says it is possible that Union's hierarchy, which he ims is failing to provide job otection support, will be ced to accept it.
Or Bradley also accuses RHA imbers of "cut-throat" activi by competing in rate wars. .iverpool's problems are exa
bated by the events of last ek when men checking cards ide the Seaforth terminal re evicted by port police. In 3liation, a picket line at the -ninal was formed and is rescting the movement of tides.
IHA's industrial relations cer, Doug Taylor, says that Association is prepared to ince any RHA member who hes to seek an injunction iinst those restraining activi. He has received a letter -n TGWU general secretary, c Kitson, who says that the )fficial action is against union icy.
A card sent anonymously to Mr Taylor, shows that there is provision for a photo to identify card holders. Union men are charged £1 each for the cards.
RHA's North-western Area secretary, Bill Farnorth, says that employers and drivers in the area have accepted the card system as a fait accompli. He understands that the Union is trying to eliminate the "cowboys" and allow only "established" hauliers to handle containers.
A Merseyside operator told CM that while his company cannot support the action of the Union, he is prepared to play along with the Union's request for identification cards for drivers. All the company's drivers received cards when they applied, though the firm was not prepared to pay for them on behalf of the drivers.
But the RHA feels that problems could arise when drivers from different parts of the country try to enter terminals in affected areas like Liverpool. The Association has already heard of one Western Area company which claims it has been blacked despite having its own TGWU drivers.
In such cases, drivers are apparently being advised by the local TGWU on how to obtain cards.
It is understood that Freightliner depots are unaffected by the card system. The Union also denies that applications for cards from United Road Transport Union members are being refused.