'Substantial' Rise Sought For London Men
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Front Our Industrial Correspondent
LONDON Transport has promised to 1.-• consider the busmen's claim for a "substantial" pay rise and to give a reply as soon as possible. After hearing the union's case, the Board let it be known that it would not be averse to referring the claim to the Government's new National Board for Prices and Incomes. Such a move would remove the onus of whether, as a nationalized concern, it should overstep the incomes "norm" of 3 to 31 per cent.
But there is no chance at all of the union agreeing to such a course. The Transport and General Workers' Union was the leading oppbnent to the Government's incomes policy when the Trades Union Congress conference of union executives was held at the end of last month. Even supporters of the policy would not countenance such a move, which they would regard as an abrogation of normal collective bargaining.
In putting its case the union team stressed two points—the rise in the cost of living since the last pay settlement a year ago and the wage increases of other workers in London and the South East.
Particularly mentioned were the rates of underground drivers, which at 116 14s. a week are 12 10s. 6d. above a central driver's basic rate of 114 3s. 6d. In addition, the underground men have just lodged a new claim for a 61 per cent increase.