Clippies press driving claims
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From our industrial correspondent • About 20 London Transport bus Conductresses invaded the Transport and General Workers' Union hall at Gower Street, Euston, on Tuesday—and won a minor victory in their battle to become bus drivers.
They staged a "sit in" until 70 garage delegates agreed that their claims would be heard, if they are raised in a proper resolution from the branches.
The delegates, representing 30,000 London busmen, had earlier voted 35 to 33 (with two abstentions) against allowing the clippies into the meeting.
They had marched up and down outside with placards for about four hours. One banner read: "With 3,000 drivers short, you must wait for a bus because we are not allowed to drive."
Immediately the TGWU delegates adjourned for refreshments, the clippies went into the union hall and held an impromptu protest meeting addressed by Mrs. Kathie Fincham, 48-year-old leader of their Women Conductors' Action Committee.
The girls have equal pay. But they are indignant because they do not have equal rights.
In addition to the right to drive buses, they want the right to promotion to inspector and pay clerk and equal sick pay and pensions benefits.
At present, the LT rules state that a conductress cannot receive pension and sick fund benefit until she has five years' service. Men get these rights after one year.
Mrs. Fincham said: "A lot of women want to drive buses and feel they could do the job every bit as well as a man. But at present we are discriminated against. This applies to all sorts of jobs on the buses—from inspector to driver." The protest demonstration followed last month's angry scenes when clippies burst into the conference waving their banners. The delegates refused to continue the meeting until they had left.
This time, the picket and the sit-in were quite peaceful. Delegates who left their seats and headed for the door found the way blocked by a solid wall of women. They refused to move until their case was heard.
Mrs. Fincham said afterwards: "This must be thought of as a minor victory. We have made our presence felt and the delegates know that we won't give up."
The delegates told the conductresses to go back to their branches and forward resolutions which would get a hearing before the conference. Mrs. Fincham, a union branch corn-, mittee member at Palmers Green Garage, said that they were quite satisfied with the outcome.