Call for fair wages deal
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• A pressure group is calling on the Government to improve pay and conditions for coach drivers — some of whom earn only 22 an hour.
The Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit has surveyed more than 100 drivers during a five-month study only.
Its report, More than a day's work, reveals that 70% of the hourly paid drivers interviewed earn less than 23 an hour. One driver is paid only 22 an hour. He says: "My wife is a barmaid — her hourly rate is £2.90 and she's not responsible for up to 75 people's lives."
Unit co-ordinator Gabrielle Cox says: "Urgent action must be taken to ensure that drivers are given levels of pay commensurate with the life-anddeath responsibilities which they undertake."
The research found that many coach drivers are having to work long hours to compensate for low pay. Of the weekly paid drivers, 80% receive less than 2150 a week. More than 30% of those surveyed work an average of 60-80 hours a week with some doing 16-hour days.
"Even if hours regulations are not being evaded, there must be concern about the kind of hours drivers are having to work," says Cox. "Employers send drivers on long jobs and then schedule them for a further long trip the following day."
Nearly half of the drivers said that they work six days a week — and 6% claimed they work seven days a week.
Conditions of employment have come in for criticism too, with more than 70% of the drivers questioned not having a detailed contract of employment, and some not even receiving pay slips.
But t. ivers are unlikely to hit bac' ,at poor conditions, says t' e report, because they are concerned about job security, particularly with the ready availability of part-time and casual labour.
The unit has sent a copy of the report to Transport Minister Christopher Chope.
Its demands include:
A minimum legal wage for coach drivers, with an enhanced overtime rate for more than 40 hours in a week and entitlement to paid public holidays and annual holidays. LJ A Dip investigation into possible breaches of EC and domestic hours regulations. El Six days paid holiday after six months continuous service; four weeks holiday with pay after 12 months, and five weeks after five years,
Copies of More than a day's work cost 23 from The Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit, 23 New Mount Street, Manchester M4 4DE, phone 061-953 4024.