The Pay-go-round
Page 27
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IF operators tend to adopt a mood of cynical resignation whenever • pay matters are discussed it is, to say nO more, understandable. The whole question of claim, negotiation, and ultimate (one is tempted to say "inevitable ") settlement follows such a well-trodden path that all the moves are thoroughly familiar to everyone concerned. This would be more bearable if it were not for the fact that on both the goods and the passenger sides of the industry the unions " leapfrogged " one sectional settlement with another.
The main emphasis at the moment is on the matter of bus pay, the dreary pattern being utterly repetitious of every previous lap of the course. A London settlement was reached, a provincial claim followed and now (as forecast by The Commercial Motor over a month ago), a municipal claim for an Unspecified basic rate rise, plus 40-hour week and other improvements has been lodged.
On the goods side, the pending publication of RH(79) will mean a " comparatively minor" haulage claim involving higher overtime payments and scrapping of the lower-paid Grade 2 designation There is very little serious doubt that it will be substantially approved. Would anyone seriously suggest that before too long, either through B.R.S. or the Wages Council, the unions will not be after a more substantial increase in basic rates plus, no doubt, reduced basic hours?
The whole business has a disturbing regularity about it. Isn't it really about time everyone admitted the system to be antediluvian? Certainly bus and haulage workers are not overpaid for the responsible work they do. Certainly they are entitled to seek as high a wage as they can. But is this the way to go about it?