Unions Reject Companies' Offer : Scots Workers Strike
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A MEETING of the employers' side of the National Council for the Omnibus Industry was told last week that their offer of a 4s. a week advance in pay was being rejected by the unions. As reported in The Commercial Motor last week, the unions have decided to press' for a "substantial increase" and it is understood that 7s. has been mentioned.
The meeting was adjourned until January 18, when the matter will probably be referred to arbitration.
Meanwhile, feeling among municipal bus workers against the 4s. a week awarded to them by arbitration appears to be growing stronger. Glasgow and Dundee were affected last Saturday by a token unofficial strike of busmen. By Monday, however, a threat to repeat the stoppage in Glasgow tomorrow (Saturday) had been averted.
This decision, which was taken by a meeting of the Glasgow district committee of the Transport and General Workers' Unitin (who approved last Saturday's strike against the advice of their headquarters), was made with a view to negotiations being reopened on the 4s. award. e
ShortlY 'before the meeting, Mr. T. Meikle, secretary of the Scottish region of the T.G.W.U., met Mr. R. McAllister, convenor of Glasgow Cor poration Transport Committee, and Mr. A. Hood, leader of the Labour group in the corporation, and, it is believed, made certain suggestions arising from his meetings with the committee. Although the nature of these was not revealed, they are understood to concern a possible bonus incentive scheme for the undertaking's employees.
Because of the uncertainty about wages, proposals for fare concessions which would cost Glasgow about £100,000 a year are being held over. These proposals were reported in The Commercial Motor on November 13.
Liverpool bus workers decided recently to ban overtime and rest-day working in protest against the award.
Employees of Sheffield Transport Department, who, as reported in The Commercial Motor last week, had decided not to work extraservices on Christmas Eve, withdrew their decision after certain " satisfactory " terms were offered them.
Bradford Transport Department fears that the increase will force it to raise fares. The additional cost to the department is 'estimated at £20,000 a year. The annual extra cost to Leeds will be £.33,000, to Walsall almost £10,000, to Doncaster about .£4,000 and to Wolverhampton nearly £19,000.