Machines for the Gods
Page 54
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Topic by Janus (CM March 23) is surely optimistic to imagine that rail drivers reemployed as bus drivers would be less inclined to take industrial action. It seems more likely that they would want extra remuneration for steering the things. Every action of this kind must bring completely automatic operation of trains one stage nearer.
On the wider aspects of labour relations, road transport is not necessarily more immune from disputes. Most of us have experienced bus strikes in the past, and recent months, apart from the container dispute in which the Transport and General Workers' Union were involved, have seen two stoppages affecting the roads. Both were abroad, but they could happen here. In Chile a strike of lorry operators caused a severe food shortage: nearer at home Belgium had spells without petrol and oil both in October and February: in fact the "Front" which organized the stoppage claimed that it could stop every car in the country.
ROGER CALVERT, Honorary Secretary, National Council on Inland Transport, City Road, London EC1.