Dead March from Fitzpayne
Page 37
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DESPITE the pious sentiment expressed in its preface, the Henry Spurrier Memorial Lecture delivered to the Institute of Transport on Monday was probably the most depressing paper ever read to that body. That is no criticism of its author, Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, or of his erudite exposition of "The Problem of Wages."
Rather is it an indictment of bare-faced opportunism by the trade unions despite Government appeals for restraint at times when the nation was in dire extremities. hi addition, there has been a lack of solidarity among employers and disastrous interference by the very Governments that have pleaded for moderation.
Solidarity versus Disunity Mr. Fitzpayne's review of the history of wage negotiations in road passenger transport and on the railways since 1921 revealed a continuity of single-track thought and attack by the unions. It showed disunity between the bus companies and municipalities, with London's bus undertaking as a powerful third party also pursuing its own line. The use of force, ttreatened or practised, has brought its rewards for railwaymen and busmen by intimidating Governments and employers, and making a mockery of arbitration procedure.
Wage inflation is more important in road transport than in almost any other industry, because of the high labour content in total operating costs. Moreover, public road passenger transport is a declining industry. the fortunes of which, in the face of steadily increasing competition from private transport, have been dealt another blow by the recent wage award to company and municipal bus employees.
As Mr. Fitzpayne pOinted out, many municipalities have introduced concession fares for the aged. which. coupled with low fares for children, place the main burden of supporting bus services on people between the ages of 16 and 65_ It is they, however, who are deserting public transport and making it increasingly difficult to raise sufficient revenue to meet additional costs.
There is no alternative to further reductions in services, higher fares—for which applications are already beine made--'and the dismissal of workers The unions are themselves undermining the policy of full employment which. they have sought to foster.
The problem of stabilizing wages for a reasonable period is by no means new. It was prominent after the 1914-18 war. Even, then there was a division of opinion between the companies on one side and municipalities on the other, with the companies presenting a solid front and the municipalities divided among themselves in their views.
The case for an intrease in wages presented in 1920 by the unions has since been repeated many times, but with greater success than on that occasion. A court c)f inquiry appointed to settle the question recommended the stabilization of wages for a period, but in the event, because of a fall in the cost of living index, the employees suffered a reduction in wages of 4s a week. Another temporary cut was made from 1932-34, but those circumstances are never likely to be repeated. although the need for stability is far greater now than then.
Right to Co-operation Nobody would, of course, suggest that busmen's wages should be reduced. Operators are, however, entitled to ask for a period of respite from increased costs, so that they may try to regain some of their lost traffic_ They are entitled also to expect employees to join them in eliminating waste and earning the maximum of revenue at the lowest possible cost. This.. implies the full exploitation of one-man-operated buses. tight schedules and willingness to serve the public in the widest sense of the term.
There must be an end to the incivility and slackness of which even union members have complained. The remedy is in their own hands.
Equally important, Governments must not meddle with industrial negotiation in the railway, road transport or any other industry. By allowing themselves to be intimidated by the unions, even to the extent of overthrowing the recommendations Of arbitration tribunals. Governments have helped to create the dire straits. in which bus operators find themselves. It now rests with the Administration to make retribution by removing the fuel tax and thus enabling road passenger transport to breathe auain.