Conciliation Move in Pay Dispute
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'THE Minister of Labour has been
asked to appoint, a conciliation board to assist in securing a settlement in the pay dispute between the London Transport Executive and the Transport and General Workers' Union. "
The Union seek an all-round increase of IA 5s, a week and a sick-pay scheme. The Executive proposed a re-arrangement of hours so that staff could have More -rest days, but did not appear t9 have offered higher pay.
Discussions on the wage claim affecting some 100,000 employees in provincial bus companies tobk place on Wednesday. It is for increases ranging from 16s. to 13s. a week for drivers and conductors, another fl 10s. 6d. a week for skilled maintenance workers, and increases from 19s. to £1 8s. 6d. a week for semi-skilled workers.
The unions are proposing a new scale of rates for bus crews. This would mean that the maximum rate would be reached after two years' service, with increases of 5s. a week every six months. At the present time, the maximum rate is reached after a year.
A sick-pay scheme and a non-contributory pension scheme are also proposed. It is suggested that the pension scheme should be generally similar to that introduced for wages grades by the British Transport Commission.
An answer to the pay claim submitted by the municipal transport employees is expected to be given at a meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council next Monday.
On Tuesday, Manchester Transport Committee decided to apply for permission to pay higher wages than those agreed nationally.
OBJECTIONS TO CHARGES SCHEME OVERRULED
LEGAL objections to the British Transport Commission (Railway Merchandise) Charges Scheme were dismissed by the Transport Tribunal in a decision issued this week. They rejected a claim by Hull Chamber of Commerce that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to examine the scheme.
They likewise dismissed arguments by the British Iron and Steel Federation, Traders Co-ordinating Committee on Transport and the Brewers' Society that Clauses 4 and 5, which fix maximum charges, were ultra vices. Further consideration is to be given to arguments on Clause 17, which states that all terms and conditions of the scheme should be deemed to be reasonable.
COACH-AIR TO PARIS MEXT Friday, the East Kent Road
Car Co., Ltd., Skyways, Ltd., and French coach operators start their coach-air services between this country and Paris. As reported in The Commercial Motor on August 5, fares will be extremely competitive, compared with those by other modes of surface or air travel.