'We want May 1 holiday' busmen
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• Municipal undertakings and company bus operators are now getting to grips with the latest "shopping list" of claims for improved conditions for busmen which has been circulated by the Transport and General Workers' Union. Most of these claims arc unrelated to pay negotiations, although such principles as shift pay — currently being put to arbitration --are included.
Most contentious of the claims iS that for a statutory holiday on May 1 — "the labour movement's traditional holiday across the world'. as the TGWU's Record newspaper puts it. The union intends to bring British days-off up to Continental levels and is also claiming New Year's Day as a holiday.
The TGWU is also asking for provision of insurance cover for its members involved in assaults during late-night duties. The union's legal department has recently won cases under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act but damages start at £ 50. This means that lesser — but still important injuries — are not covered.
A claim which has already been presented is that for a review of sick pay for busmen in the company sector together with a call for pension scheme rights. Mr Larry Smith, national secretary of the passenger transport group, said: "Though they work for publicly owned employers in many cases, busmen still do not enjoy good conditions."