Flagrant Violation of Agreements by Drivers' Union Condemned
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THE report of the Committee of Inquiry, set up by the Minister of Labour to inquire into the • causes and circumstances of the unofficial strike of drivers at Smithfield '(The Commercial Motor, June 27) was published on Monday.
In terms of unusual force, the committee, under the chairmanship of Prof. D. T. Jack, criticizes the efforts made by the Transport and General Workers' Union to get the men back to work. They also mention the "flagrant violation" of the machinery of the Joint Industrial Council and the union refusal to send the case for arbitration.
"Dissatisfaction " Cause The committee found that the cause of the strike action was a sense of dissatisfaction at alleged delay in the handling of the claim. The delay, however, was not unreasonable as the claim was a complicated one.
The unofficial stoppage of work was completely unwarranted because.the constitutional machinery for handling disputes was still capable of dealing with the differences. The committee was not convinced that the drivers had had the
position fully explained to them by their Union, nor that the Union had adequately expressed its disapproval of its members' irregular behaviour. The offer of the employers to refer the dispute to arbitration was a reasonable one and the Union should have accepted it.
NOTTINGHAM BUS DEPOT TO BE EXTENDED
A PPROVAL has been given by 1–X Nottingham Corporation Transport Committee for the provision of additional accommodation at the undertaking's Bilborough depot.
The new premises will cost about £15,000 and will give the traffic staff can teen and recreational facilities. It is hoped that the new amenities will stimulate recruiting.
MR. WATK1NSON IN U.S.
AT the invitation of the Port of New York Authority, Mr. Harold Watkinson, Minister of Transport, is this week seeing U.S. airports and harbours, and the New York road system. He is also having discussions with Mr. George Hees, Canadian Minister of Transport.