LT probes bus works
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and an A REVIEW of two of London Transport's bus works employing 3,000 staff concludes that they should be sold off and the sites sold. This The depots are at Chiswick, London and Aldenham, Hertfordshire. Aldenham Works deals with bus chassis and body overhauls, repaints and major accident repairs, and Chiswick with the overhauling of mechanical and electrical units.
The works are uncompetitive because of high overheads, less work than in previous years, and outdated working practices, says the report. But LT believes that radical changes at both management and staff level would make many activities more competitive with the outside market.
LT believes that some activities at the depots could be made profitable and will examine the setting up of small industrial units with low overheads, mode rn working practices and methods, and with local management and staff accountable on a fully commercial basis. Job losses would be kept to a minimum, LT said.
Dr David Quarmby, managing director of London Buses, said: "The only alternative would be contracting out. The 1983 Transport Act requires us to place work outside the organisation when it is more economical to do so.
"But the radical approach being evaluated could be even more economical — saving about Lim a month".