FIGHTING FOR ROAD FREIGHT MEMBERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2014 :: RMTnews 15 The road freight sector is an integral part of this fighting trade union and has been the case for many years. Rail-freight played a very big part in the rail industry until successive governments decided to destroy Britain’s manufacturing and heavy industries. My first job on leaving school was as a Telegraph Lad in Wakefield East signal box at Kirkgate Station in 1971, this box was just a few miles down the line from Healey Mills which was the biggest marshalling yard in Europe when it was built. Freight trains far outnumbered passenger trains in those days and no sooner had you signalled one train out of your sector then another was offered right behind it, this was constant all day and night which transported Steel, Coal and more to the many Goods Yards that existed in many Railway Stations in those days. Road freight covers other grades of workers and not just drivers, we have Loaders, forklift drivers, fitters, clerical and all other workers that are involved within distribution. We also have the dockworkers as well which was part of the old Docks & Railways Company including crane drivers and tug drivers. To be included as a member of the Road Freight sector, you do not have to be a ‘driver’. It appears to confuse many people when they go out recruiting at various locations with the misconception that you have to be a driver to be in RMT. RMT has recognition for negotiating rights with many companies some dating back to the old BR Sundries Division, such as: DHL, UPS, Freightliner, City-Link, Wincanton, Inland Ports, DB Schenker etc. There are many more road freight workers out there just waiting to be organised and recruited in to the union and we have had meetings with the organising unit to formulate a strategy to recruit these workers. The industry has a high percentage of agency drivers who are on zero hours contracts and many companies are happy to utilise these drivers and warehouse staff on an ‘as needed’ basis which seems to be the growing trend at the moment and needs to be addressed. A conference liaison meeting was held at Unity House recently and it is the intention of RMT to set up a strategy along with the org unit to try and break in to ‘green field’ sites with the intention of organising these workers within the road freight sector. Road Freight branches are now few and far between but we have activists available to assist in recruiting in most regions. Members from Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch would be available to cover the North regions and I can be contacted on 07880864480. In the South West we have an experienced activist in Jimmy Rafferty who is available on 07903208123. The assistant general secretary Steve Hedley has been given responsibility for the sector and can be contacted at Unity House. We need to have activists who understand the problems that Road Freight members are experiencing within the industry and experienced drivers are the best ones to talk to Road Freight workers. I am a Class 1 driver and have been for over 30 years now and have seen many changes over these years. We have had so much Legislation rammed down our throats from the likes of the EU and UK governing bodies that it has now led to a shortage of qualified Class 1 drivers in the UK. This is simply because of all the rules and regulations that have been imposed over the years that have forced many drivers to just simply leave the industry. From October 1 2014, all HGV drivers will have to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) which is forcing more drivers to say “that’s it, I have had enough” and will also be leaving the industry. Many of you will remember what happened to the train drivers when BR was privatised, this is the same scenario and will ultimately lead to the best bargaining position that an HGV driver has ever had. Road freight companies are going to have to wake up to the fact that if they do not increase the rates of pay and conditions for the present drivers, then with the dramatic shortage that will take place after October they will find drivers moving on to employers who actually had the foresight to increase their terms and conditions. This year’s RMT Road Freight conference will be in Great Yarmouth on March 22 and as conference president I am looking forward to a good attendance from as many road freight workers as possible. FIGHTING FOR ROAD FREIGHT MEMBERS Trevor Howard encourages members to attend the union’s road freight conference in Great Yarmouth on March 22