"Manager's Powers Challenge d"
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QOCIALIST-CONTROLLED Dundee "–I Town Council have refused to hold a full-scale inquiry into the transport department, with particular reference to the status of Mr. W. L. Russell, general manager.
The demand for such an inquiry came from Mr. James Gillies, leader of the Progressive minority, who quoted Mr. Russell as having stated in a report that the position was rapidly approaching when his right was being challenged, and that the matter must now be settled.
The town council were discussing the settlement of a dispute which had led to a strike by members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.
Mr. Gillies said it was the manager's job to control and manage the department. It was not for the transport convener, Mr. Harry Dickson, to meet, as he had done, certain groups of employees to arrange terms and conditions of work.
In the recent dispute Mr. Dickson, in the absence of Mr. Russell and without consulting any other official of the department, had met the men and agreed, among other things, to the very situation to which the manager had objected. Mr. Gillies alleged that suggestions for economies put forward by the manager were swept aside if they affected the interests of the employees. Mr. Russell said there was lack of discipline—not through his management, but through his inability to establish it as a result of the powers of the unions and other influences in that department making his position almost impossible.
Mr. Dickson replied that during his four years of convenership he had never interfered with the manager. Mr. Russell, if asked, would be the first to say he had always been upheld by the convener.
As to the dispute, it became apparent to him that through the strike of engineers there would be practically no buses on the road by Saturday, Monday or Tuesday. He was not prepared to see the public suffer. On the Friday evening and Saturday people were standing in torrential rain. He thought the action he took was the only course open to him in the interests of the corporation.
Mr. Gillies' demand for an inquiry was defeated by 19 votes to 12. It was instead agreed to appoint a sub-committee to consider with the Union outstanding problems in the department.