Passenger Transport News
Page 57
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NORTHERN COMPANY WORKERS STRIKE
UNOFFICIAL strikes broke out last Saturday among company bus operatives in 10 counties in the North and parts of the Midlands. Some men staged one-day stoppages, others withdrew labour for the week-end and some
groups started indefinite strikes. In certain instances, routes were curtailed because operatives who remained at work refused to enter areas wherestrikes were in progress.
These irresponsible actions arose from the men's claims for conditions similar to those granted by the Joint Industrial Council to municipal bus employees. A 44-hour week has already been conceded to company operatives, but they demand further improvements in conditions.
On Monday the Ministry of Labour announced that a special meeting of the J.I.C. would be called to-day (June 27) to consider the men's grievances. As a result, large numbers of strikers In the Manchester area were recommended by their leaders to return to work, but fresh stoppages in other areas occurred.
INTER-WORKING EXTENDED ,
CO-ORDINATION arrangements ‘..."with other undertakings had been appreciably extended during the past year by Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., said Mr. Sydney Garcke, M.I.Mech.E., chairman of the company, at the annual general meeting last week. At the end of this month, the company would have completed the first year of operation under the coordination agreement concluded with Portsmouth Corporation. The arrangement was functioning well and the public was already feeling the benefit.
Mileage increased by 6,500,000 to 27,000,000 and passengers by 7,500,000 to more than 120,000,000.
All pre-war express services and excursions and tours were restored, and preparations were made to resume many Qf the extended tours operated before the war. Hotel accommodation was one of the limiting factors in running coach cruises.
The company now owns more than 700 vehicles. PURCHASE TAX TO REMAIN ON TAXICABS IN the debate on the Finance Bill in ithe House of Commons last week, Lieut.-Col. Sir Thomas Moore moved an amendment to remove purchase tax from new London taxicabs.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that to remove the purchase tax from Metropolitan taxicabs would be unfair to provincial operators.
The amendment was defeated by 273 votes to 99.
BUSES SHIPRED ON THIRD ATTEMPT
TWO double-deck buses were ready for shipment to Lisbon Electric Tramways, Ltd., on January 24 last. No shipping space was available until March 13, when the vehicles were sent by road to Glasgow, but had to return to the works because of the weather.
They were finally dispatched five days later, but while they were waiting to be loaded at Glasgow, a dock strike began. After a delay of a week, the ship sailed without the buses, which were shipped from Manchester on May 10.
This incident was mentioned at the Lisbon company's annual meeting by the chairman, Sir Alexander Roger, K.C.I.E. 'He said that the company had 92 single-deck buses on order and that five vehicles had been delivered so far this year. A five-year expansion programme costing £1,000,000 has been presented to the authorities. CONDUCTRESSES AGAIN: MEN NOT SUITABLE
GLASGOW Transport Department is again to recruit women conductors. In a report to the committee, Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager, stated that most of the men recently engaged appeared to be unsuitable for transport, and were not amenable to the discipline expected in a public service.
During the holiday season, 410 employees were absent. In addition, there was a daily quota of men absent from work or sick—a number which had tended to increase since the introduction of the sick-pay scheme. There was such a shortage of staff that there was generally not a spare man to take over a vehicle when one did not report for duty. Consequently, ,unless this work was covered by overtime, the vehicle was not placed in service.
WAGES OF INSPECTORS: PROTEST TO M.P.T.A.
QTOCKTON Corporation has objected sJto the agreement made by the National Joint Industrial Council concerning wages and conditions of inspectors • and other special classes of transport worker.
The corporation disagrees with the principle under which inspectors and other classes would be separated from drivers and conductors and other members of the traffic staff. This objection is to be placed before the Municipal Passenger Transport Association.
Darlington Corporation has decided to accept the report of the National Council on the subject.
SMALL OPERATOR WINS
OVERRUUNG claims to priority by East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., and United Automobile Services, Ltd., the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners have granted a licence to an independent Operating firm, Messrs. J. Boddy and Son, Bridlington, to operate a direct stage-carriage service between Flamborough North Landing and Filey daily from May to September, and on Thursdays and Saturdays during the rest of the year.
Application was based on local residents' difficulty, during busy periods, in making the journey by changing atridlington, particularly during the holiday season.