London Busmen Joined Strikers D ESPITE an earlier decision of a
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delegate conference of the Transport and General Workers' Union not to strike, many motorbus and some trolleybus and tram operatives of London Transport staged a one-day stoppage last Sunday, as a protest against the award of time-and-a-quartet payment for Sunday work. The men demand time and a half. The Union condemned the strike.
A delegate conference of the three sections of London Transport road workers held on Monday evening by the Union, decided in future to work on Sundays and to honour the recent agreement with the Board.
In connection with the dispute between the company bus undertakings and their employees, who demand parity with municipal workers, the National Council for the Omnibus Industry issued the following statement: "The National Council for the Omnibus Industry recently considered farreaching claims submitted by the Trade Unions, covering a reduction in the working week and improvements in conditions. The matter was referred, by agreement, to an independent Tribunal presided over by Sir John Forster, K.C. (chairman of the Industrial Court), with employees' and employers' nominees in additiOn, and both sides agreed to be bound by any award made by the Tribunal. "The Tribunal, on June 6, made a unanimous award and granted a normal working week of 44 hours, with pay as previously for 48 hours. They found against the Unions' claim for altered conditions.
"The cost of the Award is estimated at more than £1,500,000 per annum. equivalent to £70 per bus per annum.
"The companies have honoured the award. Some of the men have refused to accept it and have gone on strike, although their representatives had agreed to accept it.
"The real point at issue is whether or not the sanctity of awards arising out of collective bargaining and the voluntary submission of industrial differences to an independent Tribunal is to be .preserved."
Extra 12s. a Week The Tribunal's award 'had resulted in the case of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., in an average increase to each driver and conductor of 12s. per week, said Mr. J. S. Wills, chairman of the company, at the annual general meeting. He pointed out that within a year of the recommendation of substantial improvements in wages and conditions by the Court of Inquiry, the unions had asked for further increases averaging £1 per employee per week.
Last Friday, Mr. Isaacs, Minister of Labour, intervened in the company dispute and invited both sides to meethim.
In the interim, further week-end stopages occurred in the province's. Employees of Chatham and District Traction Co. suspended work last Sunday in sympathy with the London Transport men.
The Exide-Ironclad bus lighting and starting battery will appear amongst the exhibits of the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., at the Electronics Exhibition, Manchester, July 22-23.