Busmen ban fares
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increases by C. Hyams • Crosville Motor Services Ltd. may be hit by an unusual form of industrial action tomorrow (Saturday) because the men at its Rhyl depot have decided to refuse to charge passengers the fares increase awarded by the Traffic Commissioners last week. This is believed to be the first action of its kind in the country.
Mr. R. J. A. Williams, the branch secretary of the TGWU at Rhyl, told me that the men are not against increased productivity. However, unlike the municipal busmen they have not been promised the £1-a-week rise. The majority of the men at the Crosville depot have not accepted the offer of a lOs bonus for increased productivity and since that is what the increase in fares was to cover, they feel the fares should not go up.
We will accept one-man operation for increased productivity when the company can prove to us that the runs are not paying. If they are going to pay the 10s we would prefer it on our basic rate," he said.
"I have a scheme which I am going to put to the management meeting. What I would like to say is no wage increase of any sort for the next 12 months. The company should keep fares at their present level and we would allow the company increased productivity for that time. From Rhyl alone they would save £10,000. At the end of that time the company would give us the national average basic rise of £2 10s."
Mr. C. R. Buckley. Crosville's general manager, said the increased fares were essential to meet rising costs. Without them the company would have to consider withdrawing unremunerative rural services. Their total estimated increase was £250,000 and the approval of the fares application would only bring in £173,000—£79,000 less than required. Another £156,000 would go on the wages bill in the full year, he said.
Another matter which has added fuel to the fire is that Rhyl does not qualify for the urban bonus.