Avert Company Bus Strike
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Mr. Coyle described this action as "an affront and a challenge." By insisting on paying a rejected offer, he said, the employers had thrown down a glove and the unions would have no hesitation in picking it up and making a fight.
"We take the view that for a long time road passenger transport has been operating on cheap fares at the expense of wages and working conditions," he explained. "Because of this the industry has been short of workers since 1939, and as a result staff in the provinces have had to work long hours. They have not had the benefit of the five-day week which has become standard in many other industries, nor do they get long week-ends or fixed annual holidays.
" Many are compelled to have their breaks in March or October instead of during the summer.
"Stress has increased as vehicles with much larger seating capacities have been operated. The number of singledeckers acquired by companies has reduced considerably, whilst the seating on existing vehicles has increased by 30 per cent. There are, therefore, far more double-deckers, and these also have larger seating capacities.
"In the majority of cases, the companies are making substantial contributions to the British Transport Commission," he added. "We feel that we are entitled to some of that money, for the Commission's employees get the benefit of retirement pension and sick pay, which is denied bus workers."
Mr. Coyle said it was not yet possible to announce the strike date, but the union did not intend to act hastily. They had the authority to withdraw labour, and unless the employers offered considerably more than 3s. a stoppage would be ordered in England. Scotland and Wales. Balne has contended nobody wants."
0. B. Transport are basing their appeal on the fact that they were misled by the misprint which appeared in Applications and Decisions and were therefore prevented from objecting to Picktord's application.
1313m. ROAD PLAN FOR N.E. A PLAN costing £38m. to provide Noithumberland and County Durban% with a modern road system is outlined in "Roads Matter—the North East." published by the Roads Campaign Council, 15 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1. On Tuesday the council launched a seven-week crusade for new roads in the area.
It is stated that £1.5m. a year is wasted on the two counties' out-dated roads, which have scarcely been improved for 20 years. Weak bridges compel one in eight heavy loads in County Durham, and one in four in Northumberland to travel by circuitous routes. The booklet was produced for the R.C.C. by the British Road Federation