Cemex pay rise deal averts strike threat

Cemex has averted a series of one-day stoppages by its 700-strong fleet of owner-drivers after agreeing a deal for a 7% pay rise.

News of the deal to increase haulage rates comes two months after representatives of the owner-drivers threatened industrial action after problems with paying them on time and in the right amount, as well as supply issues that they claimed were caused by the company's restructuring programme.

Mick Binns, who represents the drivers, told CJ that he was happy with the deal, which was struck after a series of meetings with Cemex UK vice president for materials Mike Ogden.

"I have to say it's a very good increase and it puts the owner drivers on a rate that is more equitable with their worth it's what we've been trying to achieve for some time," Binns said.

He said Ogden had also given an undertaking to address problems with getting through to Cemex's call centres and concrete quality issues, which have been raised both by owner-drivers and civil engineering firms (CJ, 8 August 2007).

But while Binns was positive about the agreement, he warned there was more work to be done before all issues were sorted out. "There's still a way to go regarding some of the administrative problems that we've been having. But we are being listened to and I think from our point of view that was half the battle," he said.

Cemex was not available for comment.