LONDON BUS THREAT GROWS
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FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT DAY talks between the London Trans' port Board and its busmen became completely bogged down -this week and relations between the two sides now appear to be right back where they were when the disastrous overtime ban was imposed towards the, end of last year.
In fact, a partial ban on overtime and rest-day working has already begun and a decision on a general campaign by all the Board's 100 garages was expected to be taken last night (Thursday) at a hurriedly summoned joint delegate conference of the busmen.
Following the earlier breakdown in negotiations the two sides came together again on Tuesday in another bid to break the deadlock. If tim,e is any criterion they certainly tried—for over three hours in the morning and then, after a break during the afternoon, for well over five hours until late at night.
Before they met the L.T.B. the busmen's negotiating committee had decided to concentrate on three points in the Board's proposals for a comprehensive agreement to cover pay and conditions as well as technical developments. These were: 1. An improvement in the pay offer. The Board had offered an increase of 13s. a week in rostered earnings plus another 20s. a week on average, in various efficiency payments, The Union wanted 24s. 6d. more in basic earnings.
2. On the shorter working week, the Board had offered a 40-hour week consisting of five days of eight hours each. The Union wanted to keep an 11-day fortnight but with each working day reduced to 7 hr. 16 min.
3, The Union wanted an improvement in the holiday offer of an extra three days, to be taken during the winter, for staff with five years' service. They wanted an extra week for all during the summer.
In spite of the long hours of talk both sides stuck firmly in their main entrenched positions. On the Union side the only
concession was to express a willingness work slightly more than 40 hours a we if they could keep to their 11-day fo night. On the Board's side there was offer that one of the three extra da; holiday could be added on to the nom summer holiday. Neither of these poi' was sufficient to break the deadlock a the meeting finally broke up without a new date for a resumption of talks.
117 a Week In a statement issued after the meetir London Transport set out once more tin proposals, adding that the 33s. a we increase in average earnings would bri the pay packet of a central bus drib after one year's service to more th £17 for a standard working week. T driver-conductor of a one-man bus in it central area would receive about £1,0 a year. Both these amounts were excl sive of rest day working or volunta overtime payments. "The Board's off on wages represents a substantial advan on the proposals that were made to ti Phelps Brown committee" the stateme added.
Mr. Eric Ottoway, member of ti Board in charge. of bus operations, wl led the negotiations, said afterwards: "V feel we have gone a long way to me them and have tried to interpret proper and fairly the recommendations of ti Phelps Brown committee."
Although the offer is worth abo £3,500,000 a year the Union team do n agree with him. There is a very stror feeling among the busmen's leaders th London Transport are evading the cor mittee's recommendations by laying k much stress on technical developmen and not enough on basic earnings, the garages, too, there has been growir support for militant action. Anart fro Bromley Garage, where 450 drivers as conductors began an overt:rne ban midnight on Tuesday—within minutes the talks breaking down—Southall crev have announced that they will start ban on June 10. And seven other garagi have also expressed support for a ne campaign.
If another overtime ban were impose it is difficult to see how a way out coui be found this time. One hope rests wit the executive of the Transport an General Workers' Union, which starts i quarterly meeting on Monday. They ma instruct Mr. Frank Cousins, their generi secretary, to seek a top-level meeting wit Mr. A. B B. Valentine, the Londo Transport chairman.