It is good to hear that this dispute has returned to the negotiating table. However, I believe that the fact that the dispute has arisen from accusations of the management bullying of drivers is important as this has now undoubtedly become a major problem throughout the road transport industry.
From the early 1960s until the mid-1980s I was a HGV driver and I have since then retained strong connections to that industry through my role in industrial safety. In my original role as a driver, all who were in management positions had gained those offices by way of progressing from the shop floor.
In the above, those supervisors and managers were very aware of all aspects of the industry and the everyday problems that drivers and distribution staff encountered as they had carried out those roles themselves. Equally, you could not "pull the wool" over their eyes as they knew as much driving those trucks as any driver would, and in that much respect and cooperation was gained on all sides. The road transport Bus and Coach passenger industry was much the same in terms of management appointments and structure throughout those years.
However, that situations began to change in the mid-1990s with at first senior managers being recruited from graduate people and that has progressed down through the management structure until today even supervisors are recruited from outside the industry on the basis of those persons applying for such positions educational qualifications along with the bull they state in their CVs
Therefore, we have a situation today where throughout the line management in the transport industry very few (if any) have direct experience of the everyday operational problems drivers face and that can also be the same with all other shop floor workers in the industry. The foregoing all too often brings about a lack of respect and understanding on all sides as management are always under great pressure to bring about the best financial results considered possible.
The problem is that road transport never has been and can never be were anything can be guaranteed. Delays occur for a multitude of reasons and those delays often cannot be made up by drivers and other staff and then have a "knock-on effect" on other schedules and operations. The foregoing can cause stress in the line management which all too often results in bullying of drivers and others under their supervision.
The above is a very derogatory factor in commercial transport and is undoubtedly responsible for many experienced drivers, vehicle technicians and other support staff leaving the industry causing huge staffing problems and leading to even greater stress among all still involved. My own company have investigated and advised on any number of safety breaches by divers and other staff in recent times where those accused of such breaches have at disciplinary hearings taken against them stated that bullying by line managers brought about their actions.
It has become a very serious and growing issue in the transport industry which has to be somehow resolved.