rows down the gauntlet•••
Page 11
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maces and win'
Although it was obvious some employers resented this move, he wondered why.
Nothing to fear
There was nothing to fear about the abolition, rather it was up to "the sensible . . . the real professionals" to turn it to the industry's advantage.
He repeated his union's long-standing attitude on the subject of local wage negotiations, based on "a sensible geographical area". Such negotiations could become the basis for the "new approach" to better industrial relations.
Through this, "a much more comprehensive body . . . would make an ideal pressure .group for road haulage". Local authorities would be obliged to take more notice of the industry's problems, ie the lack of adequate overnight lorry parks.
Two more aspects of the industry were touched on by Mr Jones, before he returned to his theme of "better industrial relations".
Driver's plight
First, the plight of the driver, and the image most people outside the industry has of him. No doubt about it, admitted Mr Jones, drawing on a survey carried out in 1974, it was bad.
And those responsible for improving "this uncalled for bad name" were people like the Conference delegates.
The driver, "a vital link," needed no glamourisation, but a "just and fair image".
And the problem was, not only was this "bad image" reflected in the lack of respect shown for the important work done by drivers; it also reflected in the kind of "neo-Dickensian" overnight accommodation generally meted out to a driver.
Cowboys out
Second, the union leader called for the end of the "often dangerously uncivilised cowboys" of the trade.
"Cowboys must", he added, "be removed from the indastry." They were too dangerous., Returning to industrial relations, Mr Jones told his audience he thought "localised joint determination" involving management and driver, could only strengthen the voice of road haulage.
"We need to join forces more than we have done in the past to promote our common interests.
"All that is required is the full recognition of the role of the trade union movement and its greater involvement with management — then together, we can seek to guide management and unions in Europe towards the acceptance of better and more realistic policies"