Threat of Saturday Bus Strikes
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EICESTER bus crews, who started 1.-4 working to rule the day before Christmas Eve, staged a lightning unofficial strike last Saturday afternoon. They have now decided to strike every Saturday until their grievances are settled.
The working to rule began after Mr. Cyril Hadley, the local official of the Transport and General Workers' Union, had told them that the transport committee would not transfer an inspector. Mr. A. Moore, to other duties. The committee had agreed, however, to consider reorganizing disciplinary procedure for minor offences, and to look into the question of the Union being represented where more serious offences were concerned.
Saturday's strike took the city by surprise. Mr. Hadley explained that it occurred because of action against two men. A conductor arrived late at the city centre and could not complete his journey without doing overtime, so he would not carry on. He was placed on the spare list, and so was a driver whose bus had been followed by the general manager, Mr. J. Cooper. It had halted at all stops, regardless of whether people wanted to alight.
Buses were running again on Sunday, but the work to rule had not been relaxed. Mr. Cooper had agreed to withdraw the punishment against the driver but not the conductor, and it was then announced by Mr. Hadley that a strike would take place each Saturday.
The National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Passenger Transport Industry were informed.