No Alternative for Proposed Yet
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MO organization representative of I 1 employers in the road transport and associated industries has yet given much thought to the channel for resolving disputes with the trade unions now that the Industrial Disputes Tribunal is to he abolished.
A spokesman of the Ministry of Labour told The Commercial Motor last week that in the absence of any new Bill which might be introduced by • the Government, disputes could be dealt with on a voluntary basis, as at present. There will still be the Industrial Court, and the Minister of Labour may set up courts of inquiry, the findings of which are not binding but are usually accepted by both, sides.
Neither the Public Transport Association nor the Municipal Passenger Transport Association, who, at the time of the Government decision were deeply concerned in the wage claim of provincial and municipal busmen, were able to visualize any fresh form of negotiating body. In recent years the I.D.T. had appeared to be redundant and future disputes. might be settled more speedily in discussions between employers' organizations and the trade union side, with the Industrial Court acting as the final arbiter.
The Road Haulage Association had no comment to make.
The National and Local Government Officers' Association are to protest against the abolition of the Tribunal. Since 1951 the Association ha* referred 205 disputes to the Tribunal. Among them were cases concerning clerical and supervisory workers in bus companies.
Mr. W. C. Anderson, general secretary, said on Monday that if no alternative form of compulsory arbitration could be found, the Association might have to reconsider their attitude towards strikes, which in the past they had renounced.
RURAL SERVICES INQUIRY
AN investigation into the decline of .1-1 rural transport services is being conducted by the Notts Association of Parish Councils. In their annual report, the Association state that country dwellers were suffering from a curtailment of existing services. Public transport was essential to rural life and must be provided.