Wages : Deadlock on Three Fronts
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PIA FTER talks lasting five hours in
London, on Monday, the National Joint Industrial Council for the road passenger transport industry deferred until November 10 consideration of the municipal busmen's pay claim. A Ministry of Labour industrial relations officer was present at the discussions.
Birmingham Transport Committee, however, announced on Tuesday an increase of 10s. a week for busmen "as part of an anticipated higher national award." It will date from next Monday and is subject to the approval of the establishment committee, It has been given partly because of the delay in national negotiations, to which, in any event, Birmingham Corporation do not subscribe.
Following the report of a conciliation committee that no settlement had been reached on the demand for higher pay by provincial bus operatives (The Commercial Motor last week), the National Council for the Omnibus Industry last week referred the claim to arbitration, in accordance with their constitution.
When The Commercial Motor cltsed for press, arrangements were still in hand for setting up the tribunal. The chairman will he appointed by the Minister of Labour, and there will he two other members selected by the employers' and union representatives.
Arbitration has also been recommended in the wages dispute between the London Transport Executive and some 55,000 busmen. A conciliation board appointed by the Minister of Labour has failed to settle the differences between the two parties.
The arbitration proposal, made by the conciliation board, had a cool reception at a delegate conference of London bus workers on Monday. After a fivehour meeting, they instructed their officials to meet L.T.E. representatives to press their claim. The union spokesmen were instructed to report back to a delegate conference on these talks, which took place on Tuesday afternoon, PAY DISPUTE HEARD
THE Industrial Disputes Tribunal heard in London on Wednesday a dispute between the Transport and General Workers' Union arid Monarch Coaches (Bristol), Ltd. A union spokesman told The Conunercial Motor last week that the dispute arose out of the refusal by Monarch Coaches to pay to their staff a 10s. a week increase awarded by a local joint industrial .council in April.
B.R.S. (PARCELS) OFFER QHARES in B.R.S. (Parcels), Ltd., are due to be offered for sale next week. When approached by The Commercial Motor on Tuesday, British Road Services would not commit themselves to the date of offer. An official announcement may be made today. There was silence also on the future of the B.R.S. meat unit.
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