COUNCILS' ONE-MAN BUS TALKS BREAK DOWN
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
From our Industrial Correspondent
CPEEDY introduction by municipalities of one-man-operated buses—described by union 1..) chiefs as the industry's "greatest productivity element"--is in jeopardy. Joint talks between unions and employers broke down at the weekend when union leaders of 77,000 municipal busmen gave employers three months' notice of withdrawal from the national agreement on wages and conditions.
The clash over payment for one-man operation means at least a temporary breakdown in negotiations in the industry's National Joint Council.
Two months ago, the Transport and General Workers' Union issued their "busmen's charter" which called for a 40 per cent share of the savings on one-man operation for busmen. The present figure is lower.
They now accuse the employers of a "negative attitude" towards new productivity agreements; and Mr. Alan Thompson, TGWU national bus secretary, said if negotiations broke down altogether, they would be "back in the jungle".
In rejecting the 40 per cent claim, the employers maintain that their agreement with the unions in November 1965 provided for the introduction of one-man buses.
This agreement, they say, cannot be re-negotiated on a productivity basis as there is nothing new to "buy".
The 1965 agreement provided a general long-service bonus rising to 30s. a week and more wages for one-man operation—a 15 per cent increase for drivers of 60-passenger buses, rising to 18 per cent for those carrying 90 passengers.