London Busmen Press Claim
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
for Inquiry
FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT ONDON busmen have replied to the Minister of Transport's refusal to set up an " independent public inquiry into London Transport by threatening to ban all
overtime.
Figures indicating improvement in staff recruiting' and recovery of lost mileage were "misleading in the extreme," it was stated. The alleged improvement in lost mileage was a paper" solution due to cutting of mileage from the .schedules and brought little or no relief to the On staff shortage, London Transport were still 3,340 drivers and conductors short—or more than 10 per cent. on a staff of 32,000, •Yet mileage lost was only 4 per cent. This big• discrepancy, Mr. Stevens maintained, was an' indication of the very high 'level of overtime being worked by bus crews.
58-hour Week
In January, anticipating an inquiry, the busmen agreed to permit up to 16 hours' overtime a week, thus raising the working week from 42 to 58 hours. "The attempt of the busmen's union to alleviate public distress by accepting an exhausting level of overtime is now used by you, as Minister, as one of the grounds for refusing to order the inquiry they ask for," the statement went on.
" In the light of your refusal to act it now becomes extremely doubtful whether London busmen will agree to continue this very high and dangerous level of overtime working. Should it be decided to place a ban on overtime your figure of lost mileage would immediately increase by 150 per cent."
The statement ended by pledging a wide public agitation for "an adequate and efficient bus service for the people of London,"
MR. ELSE MEETS MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE
THE new West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr.. John Else, was on Monday introduced to the West Midlands Maintenance Advisory Committee by his predecessor, Mr. W. P. James.
Giving details of vehicles examined in the West Midlands area between October 1, 1959, and September 30, last, Mr. Else said that 9,577 vehicles were examined and 4,281 prohibition notices issued.
Mr. A. R. Butt was appointed chairman of the committee and Mr. W. R. Rogers vice-Chairman.
FREE SHIRTS
EDINBURGH Corporation transport .1-1 department have approved the free issue of shirts and ties of uniform colour to bus staffs. Shirts are navy blue and ties a lighter blue. Shirts will he worn without tunics in summer.
B20