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'That way lies anarchy', says EYMS as crews strike
Page 38
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BUS drivers and conductors of East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd. came out on Sunday on what the company terms "a deplorable and utterly unnecessary" strike against company plans to increase the number of split shifts, put more buses on a controversial route and introduce one-man operation on the Hull-Beverley-York service.
Most of the EYMS employees were solidly behind the Transport and General Workers' Union ban on operating services. But about 150 drivers and conductors based at Bridlington, Beverley, Driffield and Pocklington took out buses. That left the thickly populated areas ringing Hull and rail-axed Hornsea and Withernsea to bear the full brunt of the strike.
.Daily express buses from Hull to London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Blackpool did not leave the city on Monday and the company is not accepting advance bookings for excursions or the London and Birmingham services.
Mr. David Shenton, regional secretary of the TGWU, said the action of the nonstrikers was very disappointing and the union was still trying to get them to join the strike. He argued: "We are determined not to operate these new schedules. The company is determined to bring them in. There is complete deadlock and it looks as if the stoppage will continue for a long time."
But the general manager of EYMS, Mr. C. R. H. Wreathall, said in a statement issued this week: "This strike is deplorable and utterly unnecessary. It has been fostered and is being encouraged in complete disregard of the machinery agreed by bus companies and unions for settling the differences which arise between them. The TGWU was invited last week to put a case to the industry's National Council if it thought it had a good one to put. It has yet to do so.
"Three issues have been raised with me by the union: Extra city work, one-man operation, and more spreadover duties. I will deal with each in turn: "Extra city work: No bus employer can accept union dictation as to which routes
their members will or will not serve; that way lies anarchy. But East Yorkshire remain willing as they have always been to discuss (and on merit modify) any duty which is considered unreasonable.
"When the union asked recently for an extra bonus for city work, they were reminded that East Yorkshire crews are paid a nationally agreed rate which, by the union's own choice, is 'averaged' over the hard and the easy company work alike.
"East Yorkshire have never failed to follow the agreed recommendations of the National Council over pay and during the Government's pay freeze could not do so even if they wished.
"There is no excuse here for a strike.
"One-man operation: One-man operation of the Hull-Beverley-York service has been open to discussion since the company's traffic manager informed the union of it on August 31. Both company and union are under a joint obligation to seek economical. operation and on most of this route it is a waste to use two men. On the busy sector in and out of Hull two men would be used. Seventeen men have volunteered for one-man operation from Hull. Only four are at present needed.
"There is no excuse here for a strike.
"More spreadover duties: Here again the company's proposals have been open to discussion with union representatives since the traffic manager informed the union of them on August 31. That opportunity is yet to be taken. The company will modify any duty which is shown to be unreasonable either now or in the light of working experience. But it is unreasonable of the union to refuse to either discuss them or allow them to be worked.
"There is no excuse here for a strike.
"It would be quite wrong to suggest that East Yorkshire are adopting a rigid or highhanded attitude over any of these matters. They want to see full service back on the road as soon as possible and they want to do everything they can to restore friendly relations with their staff where these have been strained. But they are entitled to expect that the normal means of discussion shall be used and not refused, and that if they fail the . national machinery for settlement of differences between members of the National Council shall be allowed to work.
"The strike should be called off at once without prejudice."
Publicity Conference: The fifth annual publicity conference organized by the British Omnibus Companies public relations committee was held last week at the Connaught Rooms, London, and attended by more than 40 traffic managers and publicity officers from the bus companies affiliated to the committee. Bus Station Appeal Succeeds: Seottish Omnibuses Ltd. has succeeded in an appeal to the Secretary of State for Scotland seeking space for a bus station in Stirling Street, Galashiels. Selkirk County had refused permission. Now the local council has asked Scottish Omnibuses to provide detailed plans for a station as soon as possible.