Mr. Robens Condemns N.B.W.U.
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ASCATHING at It a c k on the National Bus Workers' Union was delivered in the House of Commons last week by Mr. Alfred Robens. Minister of Labour. Be accused the N.B.W.U. of being a breakaway body from the National Union of Railwaymen, and of causing difficulties within Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd.
In no circumstances would Government recognition be given to breakaway unions, he declared. The 1948 agreement on wages and conditions of work for busmen were negotiated by the N.U.R., he said, and the well-ordered method of procedure was one which no-one wished to see broken.
Col. Crosthwaite-Eyre, opening the discussion on the Hants and Dorset dispute, contended that the N.B.W.U. was formed because bus workers felt that they were insufficiently represented within the N.U.R. It quickly attracted membership from 90 per cent. of the company's employees and applied for recognition by the National Council for the Omnibus Industry.
He pointed out that under the new schedules, some men were losing 12s. 6d. a week. At the Winchester depot, representations had to be made to an N.U.R. official at Poole.
Mr. Ralph Morley felt that there was a strong argument in favour of a single union for railwaymen and busmen. As integration of transport proceeded, the fortunes of both would be more closely linked.