Coach drivers hours
Page 48
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I would like to reply to the comment on the item on the "Bird's eye view" page headed "100-hour week?" (CM. September 17).
I can, and do feel proud that I have gained agreements for 62 hours per week with time and a quarter as an overtime rate. when I know that prior to such an agreement drivers had to work long hours without any payment for overtime at a very low rate of pay, Before I began organizing coach drivers into the Transport and General Workers' Union there was certainly very little done on behalf of coach drivers in the Greater London area, and there were no more than four agreements existing between the union and coach companies. Today, we have some 30 agreements with various coach firms spread over the London area.
Coach drivers of non-union firms rarely have even a contract of employment let alone an agreement covering their terms and conditions of employment, and I am certainly, therefore, not just hinting that drivers have to work long hours on non-union firms, but would definitely claim that such drivers work anything from 66 hours per week to well in excess of 100 hours for a wage which amounts to little more than between 30-40p per hour. Because these kind of conditions are being Operated in the private coach industry this probably explains the reason why many firms threaten drivers with the sack or, alternatively, that they would close the firm down should the drivers attempt to join the union. Such practices operate even in the alleged reputable firms in London.
Our union has been successful in getting a fair deal for coach drivers where we haw organizations, not only on wages and condi tions but also on the question of parking fad. lities which is, indeed, an important factor ir the lives of coach drivers.
We are, in fact, running a campaign witllocal authorities, the GLC and Members a Parliament to get parking facilities for coache: when on tour, something that not only benefits our members but employers as well.
J. A. STEVENS, Coach Organizer, Transport and General Workers' Union.