Use the new labour market
Page 17
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The road haulage industry and other employers of goods vehicle drivers should grasp with both hands the opportunity presented this week by the RTITB to undertake the administration of the training of redundant men. This offer, if accepted, will help to solve much of the industry's labour problems and will at the same time give fresh heart to those who find themselves the unfortunate victims of the recession. Since the introduction of the heavy goods vehicle driving licence last year, there has been an increasing shortage of Class 1 and Class 2 drivers. In addition, for many years there have been complaints that by making the lower age limit for hgv drivers 21, legislation ensured that only the dregs of the labour market were left for driving duties.
The labour market is now teeming with men, 41,000 drivers and over 700,000 others, many of them skilled technicians. No longer has industry the excuse that there is any shortage of suitable labour.
The RTITB's offer to meet interested parties should be accepted immediately. This opportunity to staff .the industry with well-trained men is unlikely to present it-self again.
Not only should operators—own-account or hire and reward be looking at the immediate future of the domestic market. Europe is just around the corner and our drivers are ill-prepared. Now is the time to train. The only barriers in the way would appear to be finance and a willingness by all parties to co-operate. Already the redundant men are drawing social security and would be much happier doing something for the money and this includes training. Although the Government is against subsidizing industry, it could hardly reject a request for a substantial loan to retrain. This would not be a subsidy but an investment.
Lines of demarcation exist between the different sectors of the industry and different Government departments. The present situation is almost a national emergencyThe lines of demarcation must disappear. The RTITB has given the lead. Trade associations, trade unions, the Minister for Transport Industries and the Department of Employment must accept the Board's offer and get down to doing something positive and very soon.