ROAD FREIGHT CONFERENCE

RMTnews :: june 2005 14 Delegates applauded the struggle of Initial City Link workers, who were taking their first ever industrial action in order to achieve a decent basic wage. Aware of the difficulties of organising in the notoriously anti-union courier sector, conference pledged its own support and urged all grades to do likewise. An ICL delegate described the “dubious pleasure” of working for the Initial-Rentokil subsidiary for 40 hours a week for a take-home pay of less than £200. “They run a bonus scheme that gives with one hand and takes away with the other and, as you can lose your bonus for a taking a day’s sick leave, people come in when they are really too ill to work,” he said. With help from the organising unit, recruitment at the company had taken off, and the union was now in a position to take the company on. “We are all new to this: we’ve never been on strike before, we know it’s going to be a hard battle, and it will be greatly appreciated to have people there to support us.” Another ICL delegate urged every RMT member to approach every City Link driver they saw and sign them up if they were not yet members. Pledging support from Freightliner colleagues, Maurice Hamilton, Leeds Good and Cartage, said that their own dispute at Freightliner had seen the workforce united in its determination to end low pay, and that many ‘nons’ had joined the RMT fold. Conference president Peter Daniels recalled problems with Initial City Link going back many years, and how reps had had their lives “made hell” by “cowboy” management, and that some had been forced to give up because they could no longer afford to carry on. The current growth of the road-freight conference reflected the upturn in industrial activity, noted Peter. “We have told Initial Citylink that we are here to stay,” senior assistant general secretary Mick Cash said. “Year on year we have had assurances from ICL about talks, and then we hear they have imposed a 2.5 per cent pay increase without negotiation. “This is not a skint firm – this is one of the most profitable arms of the Rentokil empire, yet it pays rates that are barely above the legal minimum,” he said. Despite those problems, said Mick, there were loyal RMT reps who were determined that the low-pay culture at Initial City Link could and would be ended. Membership had increased since the strike ballot had begun, and the big majority for action showed that there was a mood for a fight, despite threats and intimidation. “It’s in situations like this that RMT comes into its own as an industrial union –whatever grade, members will be there on the picket line to help,” said Mick. On the other big road-freight dispute, at Freightliner, there was now light at the end of the tunnel – thanks to the display of solidarity shown by members in first voting for action and than standing together on the picket line. COMMUNICATING The importance of good communications and getting problems in front of the executive quickly was emphasised by EC rep Dave Collinson, and he pledged that motions carried this year would be placed before the executive as quickly as possible. Key decisions at last year’s conference had reflected the simmering issues at Initial City Link and Freightliner, which were now being dealt with industrially, and Dave reported on the progress made on the others. These included the right to travel facilities, which was being campaigned on in line with policy, and where there had already been some successes, notably on Network Rail and London Underground. • The union should negotiate with Freightliner to ensure that its use of sub-contractors does not affect the potential earnings of employees, conference agreed, referring the issue to the annual general meeting “The company is using subbies more and more, yet Freightliner drivers are being sent home at lunch-times Fighting for a living w Industrial disputes dominated RMT’s 72nd national road-freight conference in Exeter Mick Cash addresses conference Dave Collinson