Strikers Go Back : Secret Ballot

13th November 1959, Page 109

13th November 1959

Page 109

Page 109, 13th November 1959 — Strikers Go Back : Secret Ballot

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QN the eve of the meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council, called last Thursday to review the national agreement on standing passengers, bus workers in Sheffield decided to return to work. They had been urged to do so lest their attitude in remaining on unofficial strike imperilled the outcome of the meeting.

On the previous night, the workers decided at a mass meeting to accept the transport committee's compromise of allowing five standing passengers on 76and 78-seat buses. A secret ballot produced a vote of 590 in favour of returning to workand 514 against.

• The following day, employers' representatives and trade-union officials met in -London to consider the union's demand for the revision of the old agreement. Talks were adjourned until November 18.

• Both sides of the industry appreciated the need for some modification of the standing passengers agreement. This was stated by Mr. Frank Cousins, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, at Rotherham last week. He said that employees did not want to leave people on the pavement, but they afso considered that those who had paid for a seat should not have to stand.