Oil Companies Backing • Union, Say P.V.O.A.
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SHARP criticism of the fuel companies whose drivers are holding updeliveries to London coach concerns, was made this week by the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association. They complained that the fuel companies were making no attempt to carry out their obligations to operators who had not obtained clearance notes" from the Transport and General Workers' Union.
A letter has been Sent to all the major fuel suppliers in the London area pointing out that P.V.O.A. members in London consume millions of 'gallons of fuel a year, and share their business among the better-known companies.
"To find their supplies cut off . . creates a position which is intolerable in the extreme," it said. "In general our members are not • being coerced into signing any form of undertaking relating to fuel supplies at the behest of the Union. Steps are being taken to ascertain the possibilities of both present and future supplies of fuel being safeguarded against attacks by members of a section within a trade union—attacks which, to• all intents and purposes, are upheld by the oil companies themselves."
So far 11 operators have taken advantage of London Transport's decision to leave their routes open to anyone who wants to run on them. However, most of these operators are either making small extensions to their own existing services or restricting their activities to the suburbs.
No incidents have been reported, and pickets have made no attempt to stop their vehicles.
The threat to fuel supplies has stopped an experiment by Chislehurst and Mottingham Chamber of Commerce, who had planned to hire a coach from W. Wootten and Sons, Ltd., S.E.13. The traders wanted to run a free service for shoppers in the Elmstead Woods district, taking them into Chislehurst, in an effort to prove to London Transport that there was a need for this facility. However, Wootten's were warned by the Union that this would constitute "strike-breaking." and because of their summer commitments they had to refuse the work.
About 4,600 London Transport craftsmen were stood off this week because there is no need for normal maintenance while the buses are idle. Another 1.000 are being retained to carry out essential n,ork.