Manchester offers big rise for one-man double-decker men
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LEADERS of Manchester's busmen have accepted a scheme for drivers of one-man double-deck buses to get a 25 per cent pay increase over their present wages as drivers-with-conductors. The pay increase would come into effect on approval by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
And the scheme—first of its kind in the country—has been accepted by the TGWU.
However, when the union's Manchester passenger officer, Mr. Jack Povey explained the new pay deal to the committees of the seven city bus depots on Tuesday, he ran into fierce opposition.
The committee representatives are reporting back to the men who must decide which of two schemes to accept.
One offers a 25 per cent increase in basic pay, from £12 17s a week to £16 Is 3d for drivers of one-man double-deckers, with an hourly rate of 8s 0i.d.
The other makes them Miscellaneous Grade V. with a basic rate of £18 4s. 5d. a week plus £55 a year in lieu of any bonus, which equals £19 5s 6d. for a 40-hour week. This grade includes a third week's annual holiday, improved sickness benefits and an hourly rate of 9s. Ii-d.
Average weekly earnings could rise to about £26—the present average is about £21. With plussages on the first scheme, there would be little to choose between the total earnings under the two schemes, although opportunities for plussages might decrease in the future.
The union considers that the acceptance of the staff status scheme, which is linked with a productivity agreement, could create a pattern for the rest of Britain.
Mr. Povey said the men had been assured that there would be no redundancy and that the union hoped the scheme would be adopted before the end of the year.
Busmen had raised fears of loss of earn ings through less overtime and pressed for a 40 per cent increase on the present basic hourly rate of 6s. 5d. Also doubts had been expressed about the safety of one-man operation of buses, with 21 standing passengers, which the Corporation plan to introduce.
Those not engaged on one-man operation will get a productivity bonus calculated on
the number of vehicles which have been converted, Mr. Povey told COMMERCIAL MOTOR. The Union wants to get the scheme operating before Passenger Transport Authorities are set up, he said.
Fares Protest: North Staffordshire Trades Council, representing about 100,000 trade unionists, is to oppose applications by six local bus companies to increase fares by amounts ranging from 1d. to 3d.