ROAD FREIGHT GRADES MEET

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2015 :: RMTnews 22 T he devastating collapse of City Link at the end of 2014 – and the unscrupulous nature of many employers in the industry – set the tone of this year’s road freight transport conference in Scarborough. Nevertheless, delegates were optimistic about building membership in the sector and set out ambitious plans for recruiting new members in the year ahead. Assistant general secretary Steve Hedley told the conference that road freight is an area for the union that has tremendous potential for building RMT membership. “There is no reason why we can’t grow membership in the road freight sector by hundreds of members over the next couple of years,” Steve said. He outlined how badly City Link had treated its workers, pretending there was nothing untoward going on at the company in the period before its shutdown. This was in spite of the fact that while it was doing this the administrators had already been called in, leaving staff totally unaware that they were about to lose their jobs. Steve explained that City Link didn’t give its employees 40 day’s notice as they were required to do so by law as a calculated act, as their pre- Christmas business income would far outweigh any fine. “It’s one law for them and one law for us. When a union breaks the law its funds are sequestrated and faces a heavy penalty,” he said. He went on to explain the company’s cynicism and that when challenged about the fact that sub-contractors – workers who were encouraged to go self-employed by the firm – have been left owed money by the firm, company boss Jon Moulton said that they should have found a better employer in the first place. One bit of good news that Steve brought to the conference is that he understood that most of RMT’s City Link workers found work quickly afterwards as they were approached by other companies when the firm folded. Steve informed the conference that RMT is calling for a full parliamentary inquiry into the way that City Link was shut down and will continue to fight for justice for the sacked workers. “Any director should be banned for life,” Steve added. Following Steve’s speech there was a spirited discussion about recruitment in the road freight sector. Maurice Hamilton, Leeds Goods and Cartage said that he believed that the fines pool was a big selling point and if its existence was promoted more then it could help build membership. Doug Reader, London Anglia Midland Transport, called for the union to sponsor and staff stalls at as many truck shows across the country as possible in order to raise the profile of the union and recruit new members into the sector. “Due to the closure of City Link and other company contracts in the last year, we have grave concerns about the dwindling membership of the Road Freight Sector of the RMT union,” he said. Andrew Hill, conference secretary, called for the union’s wider support in making a “concerted effort to substantially increase the membership in the grades which attend this conference.” Andy Budds, for the executive committee, outlined the progress that had been made on decisions since last year’s conference. However, he explained that a number of motions had been related to City Link when it was a functioning entity and therefore no longer applied. Vic Winning, London Anglia Midland Transport, asked for recognition of the importance of reps attending all branch and as many regional council meetings they can. He called for the union to write to all reps covered by the conference so that the issue is pressed home. “Branch meetings are where problems are discussed and sorted, not in the company workplace or between members at tea breaks,” he said. Next year’s conference venue will be held in the Portsmouth area. ROAD FREIGHT GRADES MEET ROAD FREIGHT: L-R Andy Budds, Steve Hedley, Andy Blackman, Andrew Hill London Anglian and Midland Transport Branch will be kicking off RMT’s road transport recruitment campaign with a stall at Peterborough Truckfest at the East of England Showground on May 3/4. This is a national event with thousands in attendance and the branch sees it as a great chance to raise the profile of the union. RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN BEGINS