P.V.O.A. Fight Trades Council
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Ban on Coach Operators
A CTION is being taken by the Pas
senger Vehicle Operators' Association to prevent Nottingham Trades Council from influencing the local authority in its choice of coach operators from and to whom it hires vehicles. •The Trades Council have drawn up a list of about a dozen operators who have written agreements on wages and conditions with a trade union. Other operators who may voluntarily grant better wages and conditions, or observe union standards, but have no written agreements, are excluded.
This list has been submitted to the local authority, with the demand that only those operators should be recognized. The corporation have agreed to do so.
P.V.O.A. take great exception to this arrangement. So far as is known, Nottingham is the only place in which this action has been taken. An attempt to restrict hiring in another town failed.
A statement issued on Monday by P.V.O.A. said that the town clerk of Nottingham had told the Association that, although the corporation had approved the list, he had no information on the purpose, authority or constitution of the Trades Council.
Not only is Nottingham Transport Department acting on the list, but education departments have been told to observe it.
P.V.O.A. declared that the use of the list was a direct attempt to usurp the jurisdiction of the East Midland Licensing Authority, who was charged with the duty of ensuring that all public service vehicle operators were fit and proper persons to run such vehicles. There should be no discrimination as to the use of public transport, particularly by local authorities, which should have proper regard to economic tenders submitted for work.
Discrimination Against Ratepayers The Association also complained about discrimination against the interests of ratepayers who operated coaches. .
"The principle involved in this question," said the Association, "shows discrimination of an unusual character and is one of considerable concern to the Association and its members. It interferes with the freedom of the subject and implies possible irregular operation outside the present statute by certain operators."
P.V.O.A. called for close investigation of the matter.