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TGWU claim to reflect mood
Page 11
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by Karen Miles • The Transport and General Workers Union is about to announce next year's wage claim in a declaration likely to reflect the growing expectation among drivers for higher pay.
A TGWU meeting this week will decide on the 1997 pay strategy, guided—according to the union leadership—by the mood that "over the last few years drivers have made their contribution to the success of their employers' businesses without seeing any benefits".
There is also expected to be agreement on a demand for a nationally acknowledged minimum hourly wage—some drivers are known to the union to be working for as little as £3 an hour.
The outcome from the 60-80 officials at the London meeting, who will directly represent around 50,000 hire or reward drivers, will also influence next year's settlements among drivers belonging to the TGWU's food and drink section, hauliers which do not recognise the union and the own account sector.
Over the past two years the TGWU has asked for yearly increases of around 3.5%—following what it says was a threeyear pay freeze.
Danny Bryan, the TGWU commercial road transport secretary, says: "A number of our members have said enough is enough...there is no doubt that there is a mood among transport workers that they have been getting a very shabby deal."