Industrial Relations: British union to target haulage industry

This is a special occasion - one of the few times I agree with a trade union!

The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) has said that it intends to focus on SMEs in the haulage industry.

TGWU national organiser for transport Ron Webb, said the union intended to shake up the industry, promising a renewed emphasis on setting minimum pay levels for drivers, a fresh attack on the Working Time Directive (WTD) and commitments to extend trade union organisation to drivers in the small and medium-sized company sector.

Haulage companies tend to put undue pressure on drivers, with deadlines that are not only unreasonable - but highly dangerous. Drivers are forced to be on the road longer than is safe in order to meet deadlines, and many resort to drugs to enable them to do so.