NO TO MEGA TRUCKS

Treat yourself to a relaxing break at UNISON’s unique trade-union owned resort in Croyde Bay, North Devon. Stay half-board in the hotel December 29 2013- January 2 2014 for our NYE Gala Dinner, entertainment and a midnight champagne toast, all for an exclusive RMT rate of £308pp. Self-catering cottages available for £432 per cottage. T’s & C’s apply. Call 01271 890 890 or go to www.croydeunison.co.uk RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2013 :: RMTnews 23 E uropean Union legislation covering HGV weights and dimension includes a clause that allows cross border traffic of mega trucks 82 foot long between consenting countries. This action will lead to mega trucks circulating across Europe by default over time in a domino effect. The road haulage industry will lobby for these massive vehicles on competition grounds in other states. The UK has already buckled to pressure from the industry by allowing seven foot longer trailers which have bigger tail swings, blind spots and inferior manoeuvrability compared with existing lorries. Detailed Swedish data shows the actual impact on rail freight since mega trucks were introduced there in the 1990s. Over the ten year period between 1990 and 2000 which coincided with the increases in weight limits from 51 to 56 tonnes and then to 60 tonnes for mega trucks, road increased its market share by 6.5 per cent while rail decreased by 3.9 per cent and coastal shipping by almost three per cent. Philippa Edmunds of Freight on Rail said that whilst the UK government says that it will not allow mega trucks here, the reality is that it will come under huge pressure from the road haulage lobby to allow them in the UK as they did with longer trailers. “We need to tell MEPs that it is not acceptable for the government to maintain this policy approach as MEPs and the government need to oppose international traffic of mega trucks not just on our roads, but across the continent as a whole in order to stop them coming to the UK over time. Go to www.freightonrail.org.uk/ NoMegaTrucks.htm. for all the details. NO TO MEGA TRUCKS New Year’s Eve four-day break at Croyde Bay Holiday Resort EXCLUSIVE RMT SPECIAL OFFER