National truckers strike

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
81

Lots of great replys, My thoughts are as follows,i am ONLY trying to voice what i see based on my own working experience within this industry as a professional driver,
We get shafted by agencys, shafted by employers with rates and 8 hour holiday pay, WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT :exclamation: .......... :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: We get treated like RUBBING RAGS AT R.D.C.s and exploited at every turn…I have driven CLASS 1 since 1995 and these are my veiws based on MY experience :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation: I am NOT making any of this up :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: Simply at a loss as to WHY WE PUT UP WITH THIS :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH…And no i DO NOT have all the answers but i can only hope that some of what i say STRIKES A CHORD in some small way and maybe JUST maybe , this in turn would trigger some ACTION… :question:

Remember this quote if no others, : FROM SMALL ACORNS GREAT OAK TREES GROW… :wink:

To those who have supported me I THANK U to those who hav`nt I THANK U TOO…

I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO SPEAK PUBLICLY WITH PASSION AND CONVICTION ABOUT WHAT I TRULY TRULY BELIEVE IN,AND SO I RALLY ONCE AGAIN BROTHERS A CALL TO ALL BOARDERS OF THIS SMALL ISLAND FOR A NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS STRIKE…

WE CAN AND WILL WIN ONLY IF OUR DEMANDS ARE KEPT REASONABLE SENSIBLE AND REALISTIC… YOURS UNTIL THEN…TONY…

82

Why Strike?

Much better to work to rule.

40 hours, no more. No over weight. If a bulb is out on trailer, defect it. Stick to 40 mph on single carriageway and 50 on double, including A1 A38 etc. No nights out. Insist on proper H&S equipment, no lifting more than 22kgs,…what does a curtain pole weigh on a windy day?
It wouldnt take long to bring on some sense and all the while the employers have to pay you as you working to your contract.

Take your time
Merlin

83

Very fair comments Merlin, thank you Tony…

84

Merlin, those are some of the most sensible comments I have seen on this thread!!!
I have always believed in work to rules… they are far far more effective than strikes!!
By the way, Tony, you never answered me??

85

Nice to see we’ve had a sensible discussion with no mods present again

Pat

i was working last night :cry: and most of them are in the states raising the profile of TruckNet (MORE LIKE GLASSES OF LAGER) :wink: :laughing: :laughing:

im in the union (usdaw) and they only thing they got us is a 7.5% pay rise but we had to give the company a months notice if we want to leave. also the vote for the pay increase for the drivers was voted on by the warehouse staff and all the non union members automatically got a yes vote.

absolutley [zb] crazy ,so tell me what good do the union’s do?

jon

86

Merlin wrote some sense in his post, Stick to the rules!

What he suggests is ok but shouldnt we be doing that anyway?

There are 27 posts on the poll, 18 for and 9 against strike action. it doesnt sound like a very fair argument when there are 1.1 million hgv drivers with C or C+E and 45% of these driving Large Goods Vehicles.

The posts I have read suggest there are two activities going on here.

  1. You want to bring the government to its knees and show people how tough you are and hold the country to ransom, get rid of driver agencies and punish everyone.

  2. You want to improve the lot of the transport driver and raise the profile of your industry. by bringing in the truck operators, managers and drivers reps to improve the needs of the Driver and Warehouse staff

There are posts about getting rid of agencies, they are a necessary evil and without them i doubt whether there would be as many drivers on this site. They allow newcomers into the industry and give them experience.

I started driving class 1 in 1979 and then you could walk out of a job at lunchtime and get a better one the same day.

I suggest that if you want to have some uniform action, then you should agree what it is you want first.

Forgive me for being cynical on this, but i have heard it all before and been affected by it more than once.

When I drove for a large parcel company our Union Rep was very militant and stopped trucks and drivers leaving the depot for the most bizarre reasons. He became Transport manager and was then promoted to Depot manager.

The other bit is brought home to me fairly regular where I live now.

There were two mining unions which had different ideas what they wanted so the answer was to fight with each other on the picket line and raise the profile. Where are they now? either of them. The only people made money then were the union bosses, And Oh yes the truck drivers who drove the coal trucks and tankers with black oil for the power stations.

87

i would like to strike for better wages but who is gonna pay my mortgage for me ? :confused:

88

if it is done correctly i am behind it 100%.
it is not just our industrie that is suffering their is others as well just a small letter to let you no about others.
My wife is a care assistant in a private nursing home and for the last 12 months her company has been brining people in to work at her place of work and other homes within the group.
these people work 60+ per week and some of them do a second job as well and the regular staff who have been there for years cannot get any extra hours because it is all given to the incomming staff (unfair or what).
Any thing that helps to make the employers and goverment stand up and listen to us drivers the better it could be for us.
instead of drivers etc winging about it lets get this moving drivers could book a days holiday to covers the day they could also inform there familys what is in the pipe line after all it is about time we all stopped talking and winging about it and take the next step.

up the workers,

89

i thought i just had to reply to some of the comments made by certain people on this site regarding unions.
The union is only as good if they have the support of there members but like every thing else drivers are all talk and no action.
it is about time that we all sat up and be counted before it is to late lets all get a something going and then pass it on to either our M.P’S or by meeting up and handing it in to the transport minister (as many drivers as possible) after all it is our futures we are trying to protect.

SO LETS STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO SOMETHING.
OR ARE WE GOING TO DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO (NOTHING)

90

There has got to be someone somewhere in the know willing to suggest, or better still PROVIDE a venue,and sound equipment mic ect, for me and of course other driver`s to speak in public to address the issues that NEED addressing and a collective decision upon what course of reasonable action need be taken■■? A strike to some may seem unrealistic even reckless this is why we need to spread the word and arrange a venue for constructive disscussion.

Thanks again colleages i am sure with some support we can MAKE OURSELVES HEARD…ENOUGH IS INDEED ENOUGH IT IS TIME TO CLIMB DOWN FROM THE FENCE BROTHERS AND TAKE SOME REAL ACTION…Tony.

91

Just to add to what you say,some years ago I took a firm to a tribunal and the union was well aware of the time and place,I`ve phoned them written to them with the time and place yeah everything was fine turn up on the day a director personal manager and a brief not on my side for sure,union rep playing with himself somewhere else,result 4 page judgement in favor of the firm but only just ,where were the union . :imp:

92

Thecritic:

TheBigOne:
You all go on strike then and see how long it takes them to get foriegn nationals in to fill your shoes. DOWNING TOOLS WOULD DECIMATE THE HAULAGE INDUSTRY in my opinion. Not wanting to be a killjoy or stir up bad memories, but where have the pits gone then after the miners strike?

I dont agree!

they are many reasons why some of us would go on strike and one of them would be to stop foriegn trucks from stelling our work!! it would hardly be common sence for the govenment to look at one of the problems to be one of the solutions

Since when did you last credit the government with common sense? See the new proposed drivers hours if you still disagree. BTW, I’m thinking that they’ll allow foriegn nationals to work on British soil for a pittance of the wage and claim driver shortage.

93

**Ok…**a few things which need to be said at this point…

  • As you have, I’m sure, noticed, this thread has been pretty ruthlessly edited, and the reasons have been made clear. Please respect those reasons in future. If you want to talk about the PDA, they have their own forums, and that is the place to do it. :unamused:

  • Pat, I quite agree that the PDA should not be brought up every time you post here as a TruckNet member, just the same way as I expect to be able to post on your forums as a PDA member without my Directorship of TruckNet being an issue. That is one of the many reasons why this “line in the sand” has been drawn, and I hope that it will hope to alleviate that particular problem. :grimacing:

  • Personal insults are not tolerated in any way shape or form on these boards… Please also remember that this rule extends to private messaging,. and any reports of members sending abusive messages will result in that members right to use the pm service being suspended. If you wish to get personal, use e-mail. :confused:

  • Further to the above, please bear in mind that we cannot babysit these boards 24/7, so if it takes a little while for these things to be picked up then bear with us… :unamused:

One final but very important point…

  • Whilst we at TruckNet UK are happy for you to discuss topics such as this on our forum, we will not condone any thing which is illegal. If these boards enable members to get togetherand form their own campaigns and organisations then great, but we cannot get invoved as a Company simply because the legal implications for the Directors are too great.

Bear in mind, however, that we do now have a “usergroup” facility on the new board,. which enables members to have a private area in which to discuss things out of the public domain if they so wish. These usergroups are still subject to all the usual rules on language and personal attack etc. (mainly because we can’t select which areas of the site the word censor is effective on!), but are basically moderated by the members within them.

The setting up and admission of members into these groups can be arranged by contacting the Site Manager (Steve / AtkiG11), subject to both him, Rikki, and myself being happy that there is no potential for damage to the site by doing so…so drop him a line! :grimacing:

Beyond that…carry on, this is turning into a very interesting thread! :wink:

Lucy.

94

just read the whole lot again my head hurts awww :unamused:

95

I have never understood why people go on strike and lose pay - just to get a better pay rise - surely one goes against the other and I know your discussuions are more on conditions than wages - but that is a big part of these discussions.
I once heard of a factory that wanted better pay - so they only made right hand shoes for weeks - that way they didn’t lose any wages as they were still doing their jobs, they still ran up production costs for their bosses - but they couldn’t sell any of their shoes as they didn’t have any left ones - excellent idea.
Target where the money comes in and goes out and you will get a quicker response - KEEP WORKING but ensure less gets delivered. Going slow is an excellent way of doing this - as long as you keep legal. It will also ensure that the work isn’t given out to other people.
As for owner drivers, do you not think they will also support this ( well most of them). They also have to endure poor pay and conditions, just as much as employed drivers if not more. There will be some that go round trying to make a quick buck - but they will be remembered by their “colleagues”.
Good Luck - the industry needs it.

96

I would go along with a 2 day strike. How about any weekend or maybe Dec 25th and 26th ■■?

Actually if everyone did it I would but if you think that you can get even 30% of truckers to go along with a strike then I would like some of whatever it is that you’re smoking.

97

Do you think that any of the trolly dollies would go and throw thier lot in with a strike ??debters court would be full for years,nice easy job union still calling the tune,so the only strike would be because the shopsteward got searched on the way out and someone beat him to the car park. :angry: :angry:

98

if drivers are interested in taking this to the next step how about trying to arrange a central point where we could meet up th discuss this further.
and the drivers who could not make it we could e-mail them all with what was talked about.
or how about getting someone in the no how to draw up something in writing and for us all to send a copy to our M.P and the transport minister listing our grievences ect.

99

We could fill the N.E.C. with drivers on poor pay and even poorer conditions the only stumbling block is HOW DO WE GET THEM THERE■■?
(Thank you for your support and suggestions Cannonball,AND indeed everyone else,) Like i have said fellow truckers, my intention is only to HIGHLIGHT the dire pay and conditions(as if they need highlighting!!!)What we propose to do about it is entireley down to YOU THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER.

With your SUPPORT we CAN achieve long overdue change in this industry, i share your concernes about the need to put family first and why we go to work, whilst i type i have 2 sons 6 + 8 yrs old asleep in the next room, sure they need their dad working sure they need the mortgage paid and WE ALL have a need to eat…that said brothers i have never felt so strongly about an issue such as this, week in week out i hear drivers fed up with their lot , and rightly so, sick of working long long hours just to make ends meet, we get exploited all the way down the line SIMPLE AS THAT.Some have NEVER known any different and claim to be happy with what they have got, and i respect that ,BUT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, AND I KNOW THAT WHAT WE HAVE GOT AND THE WAY WE ARE TREATED FALLS WAY SHORT OF WHAT WE DESERVE, AND IS INDEED LONG OVERDUE.IF YOU WANT CHANGE AS BADLY AS I DO AND BELIEVE WE CAN ACHEIVE IT, AGAIN AS I DO ,STAND AND BE COUNTED WALK SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ME AND OTHERS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT US ALL IN TRANSPORT,IF AS SAID BEFORE THIS IS DONE IN A SENSIBLE WAY , WELL THOUGHT THROUGH AND OUR DEMANDS ARE KEPT HONEST AND REASONABLE, WE CAN AND WILL WIN REAL CHANGE AND EARN RESPECT FROM PUBLIC /EMPLOYERS ALIKE THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT SHORT TERM BUT IT HAS GOT TO THE POINT WHERE TO DO NOTHING IS NO LONGER (AMONGST THE COLLEUGES I SPEAK TO ANYWAY,) AN OPTION…

My 2 boys want their dad back, NOT a burnt out shell turning up fri night/sat morning working all hours JUST TO GET BY, more than that i want MY LIFE BACK and a work life balance and the ability to walk home with my head held high knowing i have EARNT A DECENT LIVING WAGE.

Too much to ask :question: I THINK NOT. :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation: :exclamation:

WE CAN DO THIS, TOO LONG HAVE WE MOANED AND WRUNG OUR HANDS AT THE STATE OF OUR INDUSTRY,ITS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY ITS ABOUT SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO
EMPLOYERS THAT NO MORE IS THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER A DOOR MATT, WE WANT WHAT IS FAIR, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS,WITH THIS IN MIND I ONCE AGAIN CALL UPON YOU TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE, THE TIME FOR CHANGE GENTLEMEN TRULY IS UPON US.
YOURS IN TRUST AND HONESTY TONY. (PROFESSIONAL HGV DRIVER)

100

Would you Mr David Young as an editor, and a media platform at your disposal, that claims to be 100% for DRIVERS like to contribute?

With RESPECT Tony…