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APPROVAL FOR LONDON PAY CLAIM NOT OTHERS

27th May 1966, Page 89
27th May 1966
Page 89
Page 89, 27th May 1966 — APPROVAL FOR LONDON PAY CLAIM NOT OTHERS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT IE Prices and Incomes Board, in a detailed .eport on the pay and conditions of busmen Jed yesterday), have told the industry that best answer to continuing staff shortages is ightforward: There should be infinitely better made of the manpower available.

it substantial extension in driver-operated es, bringing a 15-20 per cent reduction in I costs, is the biggest stride that needs to made.

tut there could be other rernediet, too. They ude the employment of part-time operating F to meet peak demands and the carriage of -e standing passengers, if necessary by easing legal limits.

lie report gives the Board's verdict on the st bus pay claims throughout the London provincial sectors. All the claims affect rers and conductors; in the provincial sectors trailed and semi-skilled garage workers are cted as well, with skilled craftsmen entering pitture in the company sector. Taken toter, they amount to a rise, of 6.6 per cent. le Board say that the London busmen's e ase of 6.6 per cent should go ahead. But the lements for municipal and company employees he provinces should not exceed Mr. George wn's norm of 3 to 34 per cent, with some aptions.

n the case of the London T.G.W.U. claim the ird has reservations, despite the L.T.B.'s eptance in principle, and their own agreement he rise.

'he Board says that the L.T.B. is under a nearimitrnent because of the "formula" which emerged from the Phelps Brown report. As :suit., the union side gave assent to improveits in productivity and felt they were assured tnnual pay reviews.

tut, says the report, "No automatic formula n fact justified by the Phelps Brown report If". They recommend that, after this increase a next month) the formula idea should be pped and pay proposals should be related ead to productivity and manpower policies.

n addition, the London increase should be ompanied by two immediate improvements; union should agree to carry standing pasers at all times permitted by the regulations, the Green Line coach crews should accept principle of one-man operation.

lie verdict on the provincial claim, which also ers a substantial number of garage workers that there is no justification for national eases this year above the norm, tut higher increases would be in order in vidual undertakings where major changes in king practice produce genuine progress in the of manpower. Progress in the better use of mower is less advanced in the provinces than =don, the report observes.

le Board recommends that both the NJIC NCOI should both satisfy themselves on iuctivity points before formally endorsing any vidual agreements above the norm.

'he Prices and Incomes Board feel so strongly ut one-man operating that they recommend Ministry of Transport should take the initiaby quickly adapting its Construction and Use :ulations where this policy demands the regn of vehicles.

le Ministry also needs to review fuel taxaL, which affects one-man operation.

NI part-time busmen and women, the report s the industry is well suited to part-time or porary employment if the right sort of labour can be found.

Past fears that part-timers would bring unemployment are not valid today when the industry suffers from a shortage of manpower. Indeed, part-timers would improve the working conditions of regular busmen.

The report refers to the fact that, in some undertakings, the men do not accept that they should carry standing passengers up to the limits prescribed by the regulations. Not only does the report frown on this, but it adds: "These legal limits themselves warrant early examination. There is a case for allowing standing passengers to be carried at all times".

The Board found that, because of the varying conditions of work, the differences between employers and the uneven progress toward better use of manpower, there should be no fixed relationship between the three sectors and that an increase in one sector ought not necessarily be "leap-frogged" into another.

For the same reason, the Board recommend that there should be no fusion of the negotiating bodies. The reaction of the Government was awaited as CortimEnclAt-Motort went to press.

New enterprise by loM Road Services

ASERIOUS entry by Isle of Man Road Services Ltd., into the Manx section of the package tours field is foreshadowed by the company's ordering of three 41seater Willowbrook bodies. These will be employed in conjunction with some of the six Leyland chassis at present on order. They are due for delivery in time for the 1967 season.

One-man cab equipment and heaters will be incorporated with a view to the buses being used on general services during the winter months. Their exterior livery broadly will be the same as that of the LTB Green Line vehicles but with a red band in place of the green.

More Daimlers for Portugal .16e order for 26 Daimler CVU-6HLX, single-deck, underfloor-engined bus chassis has been placed with Daimler Transport Vehicles Ltd. by Lisbon Electric Tramways Ltd. This follows the order last year for 40 Fleetline double-deckers.

The chassis will be shipped c.k.d. to Portugal where they will be fitted with bodies built to the maximum permitted overall vehicle length of 33 ft. 9 in. Six of the chassis will be fitted with coach bodies and the remainder with service bus bodies.


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