Hull to Run More One-man Buses
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TERMS approved by an emergency I committee of the National Joint Industrial Council for the municipal passenger transport industry for the extension of one-man bus operation in Hull were announced last Friday. The committee's decision was sought following a dispute between Hull Corporation and the Transport and General Workers' Union over the introduction of more oneman buses in the city.
The committee's findings are that the corporation's proposals come within the decisions of the N.J.I.C, but they recommend that the proposed operation should be regarded as being on trial for a year.
Meetings are now being held between union leaders and the corporation to decide the best way of extending the system, which has been operated since 1954. Mr. E. Tate, union trade group secretary, warned last week, however, that if the men's objections were borne out, they would be pressed again at the end of the year.
• Hull's difficulties first arose when oneman buses proved too small to cope with peak-hour traffic, and had to be taken off the road in favour of doublc-deckers. The transport committee proposed to enlarge the one-man fleet, but met union opposition.
There was also argument over the rates to be paid to drivers of one-man vehicles. The corporation claimed that national agreements provided for a 15-per-cent. bonus for the drivers when they were driving on their own. The union insisted, however, that a driver who operated a one-man vehicle for a certain number of hours and was then transferred to a normal bus should receive a 15-per-cent. bonus for the week.
It has now been agreed that men shall receive the bonus only for hours worked on one-man buses.
UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
CONCERN is being expressed in the Road Haulage Association over the practice of the Transport Tribunal in making public only a few judgments, but issuing copies of other decisions to the parties concerned and the Licensing Authorities.
Recently an unpublished decision was quoted by a Licensing Authority against an R.H.A. secretary who .was presenting an application. As he was unaware of the point at stake, he was unable to rebut the Authority's suggestion.