• Bus Pay Battles Looming Ahead
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From our Industrial Correspondent
THE second round in the London busmen's battle for higher pay is to be fought out in a fortnight's time, Their negotiating committee have arranged to hold a further meeting with the London Transport Executive on December 15.
At this meeting they will again press for their full three-point claim, even though on the two major points they have had a flat rejection.
The claim is for a substantial rise and for time-and-a-half on Saturdays in place of the present time-and-a-quarter after 1 p.m.
Only on reducing week-end work has the*L.T.E. agreed to set up a joint committee of investigation. Apart from this, they have offered a "scarcity allowance" for bus drivers in an attempt to reduce the shortage of 1,600 men.
If the men's demands are again turned down the next moves will be considered at a special delegate conference, attended by representatives from all garages.
Meanwhile municipal and provincial company busmen are closely watching developments. They have agreed to lodge similar pay demands, the timing of which will obviously be influenced by the course of the London men's negotiations.
On the road haulage side, 11,000 men in Northern Ireland were awarded a rise of 6s. a week from last Tuesday.
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