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National strike looms
Page 34
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E4 EARS of a nationwide strike by municipal busmen grew at the weekend when the chairman of the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers, Aid. Norman Harris, said that they completely rejected local negotiations anywhere.
He added that there was growing evidence throughout the country that the men were not solidly behind the union leaders and it was only by intimidation that many men had been kept off the job. The Minister of Labour, Mr. Ray Gunter, would be invited to help end the deadlock.
Meanwhile in a statement to COMMERCIAL MOTOR this week, Mr. Alan Thomson, national bus secretary of the TGWU, refuted the comments made by Aid. Harris (CM last week) that, throughout the talks, the union's demands amounted to well over £2 a week increase at the barest minimum.
Mr. Thomson said that the statement by Mr. Harris was "completely and utterly untrue. We were told by Mr. Marsh (Ministry of Labour chief conciliator) on the advice of Aid. Harris that the £1 offer was the total sum of money available to meet all union claims.
"We are quite happy to negotiate on £1 a week and Mr. Marsh's notes of the talks confirm that this has been our attitude", Mr. Thomson added.
Meanwhile, settlements have been reached this week at Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Salford.
At Aberdeen, 11 has been added to the men's basic rate, and negotiations are to begin there on the other points of the "charter". Glasgow Corporation has agreed to remove the "penal clause" enforcement, and the payment agreed under this clause is to be paid weekly. The basic rate will rise by 15s, though the total increase is expected to be 18s 6d. In addition the Corporation has conceded that time-and-a-third should be payable after 1 p.m. on Saturdays; and negotiations will begin immediately to guarantee 3s 6d to 4s a week all round.
Talks on a five-day week are to start, while time-and-a-third on duties beginning before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. would produce a further 14s.
Edinburgh Corporation has agreed to add 15s to the basic rate, producing 18s to 19s a week more for the men.
Newcastle busmen also returned after 23s was added to the basic rate, while overtime is to be paid at time-and-a-half. Crews will receive bonuses next month.
Salford's buses are running normally again, to allow talks on a scheme for increased productivity.
Meanwhile Southend busmen are still on strike, and Sunderland busmen are threatening to strike on Saturdays following a decision by the Corporation not to open local negotiations. The first stoppage is expected on either December 9 or 16.