from a special correspondent I have referred in previous re ili ici : : ports to the militant policies pursued by the Midlands! commercial trade group secretary of the TGWU, Mr. Alan Law, me following report which ap i i : peared in the December 10th issue of M P gives a good indication of how he proceeds: °°
"Tank hauliers are on the receiving end of the latest bombshell by Mr, Alan Law, the TGWU's | unconventional" (sic) "Midlands commercial trade group secretarye During last week, he was busy sending out letters to operators with tank vehicles in his are,demanding that they come into line with the new wages and productivity agreements, which the oil companies have been negotiating with the union, His demands aim at an eventual £25 for a 40-hour week, plus subsistence of cs. ent (eas ake "His letter calls for a six-stage improvement in basic rates, coupled with a progressive reduction in overtime, in line with the oil companies! 'new deal' for their own drivers, The first stage would have been an increase of around £1 on basic rates with effect from November 29. Hauliers have resisted this to date...Mr. Law expects road hauliers operating from oil installations to pay the same rates as the oil companies, but he makes no mention of those companies! negotiations, It appears that most or all of the major oil companies are throwing overboard the Oil Companies Conciliat~ ion Agreement which governed wages of their own drivers and those of contractorSeees "Mr. Law's latest offensive was discussed by the bulk liquids functional group of the Road Haulage Association at its meeting last week. Members expressed concern at not being consulted during the negotiations between the oil companies and the unions, and alarm at the unilateral approach, coming as it did from only one armof the countryeee.The full catalogue of demands laid dow by Mr. Law in his letter is as follows: an immediate increase of about £1 on basic rates; from January 3, 1966, a reduction of basic hours from 41 to 40 and basic rate increased to £16; from April 4, increase to £19 10se; from July 4, increase to £21; from November 29 thi, overnight subsistence to 35s. per nighte These stages would be accompanied, says the letter, 'by a progressive reduction in overtime! and the ultimate demand, it seems, is for £25 for 40 hours! work..." Mr. Law has showm in the past that he is willing to back up such claims by bringing his members into action, This skilful use of a conceggion from one set of employers to force a similar one from another section ith Poal art of trade union negotiatione