Busmen's Wages: National Action Urgent
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IF something was not done soon on 1a national level on the question of busmen's wages, local measures would have to he taken, Cllr. S. W. Bridges, chairman of Leicester Transport Committee, said last week.
" Never has the undertaking been so badly off for platform staff," said Cllr. Bridges. " We are not able to compete with wages and 'conditions in industry, and are unable to compete with other corporation departments."
Other Midland cities were faced with a similar problem because Of full employment. To increase wages alone was not the solution, because "industry will always more than match us." Clir. Bridges added that if they could ,get houses, they could .attract people from
under-employed areas. •
Leicester bus crews have agreed to the introduction tomorrow of an emer
gency Saturday schedule which will reduce frequencies on 11 routes. A local union spokesman said that similar steps may have to he taken on weekdays, but it was hoped it would not be necessary.
If the proposed application for higher wages were granted, the financial position of Aberdeen Transport Department would alter considerably. Cllr. R. Raffan, convener of the transport committee, said last week.
Be had just announced that -the corporation expected to clear the deficit on the transport undertaking during the coming year. Estimates for 1955-1956 budget for a surplus of £34,276, the deficit carried forward from 1954-1955 being nearly 120,000. The estimate includes allowance for an increase of 179.000 in costs.
Ald. I. Rafferty, chairman of Leeds Transport Committee, said last week that the application might force them again to increase fares. They were last raised in January. It was estimated that higher wages would cost £260,000 a year.
Birmingham, too, would probably have to raise fares to meet an extra wages charge of about £300,000 a year. [Birmingham Transport Depart ment already pays drivers and conductors more than the nationally agreed rate. In consequence, it was expelled from the employers' side of the National Joint Industrial Council.] In reply to a request by the Trans port and General Workers' Union for extra payment for platform staff at work before 5.30 a.m., Stockton-on-Tees Transport Committee have said that it is a matter for national settlement.