OPINIONS and
Page 24
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UERIES
Fair Play for Bus Drivers
" for the past 20 years, and have always noted your spirit of fair play, but your article "No Consideration for the Public," in your issue dated October 5, is far horn being fair play. I think that you should take up the Cudgels on our side, for we are the most troddenupon and lowest-paid drivers in the indfistry.
It is obvious that something is wrong in this section of the industry, for it is in trouble throughout the country: I think that there should be an inquiry into present conditionsThe railway combine by which I am employed is paying its own lorry drivers .much more than it pays us, yet we cannot leave. The company made a large profit last year, for there is much more profit in passenger road transport than in haulage; despite this, we are badly paid, and have no protection from a Wages Act.
Our working conditions are most unsatisfactory, and all the vehicles are in a terrible state, not 30 per cent. are really roadworthy, and our wages are 44s. 641. for 48 hours. Some spread-overs are from 7.45 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. for only Is. 3d. a day extra. Two or three times a week we have to book off at 11.15 p.m.' and on at 6.45 a.m., or start at 2.45 p.m., break for tea at 5.3op.m. until 5.45 p.m. (if on time), and then book off at 11 p.m. with no other break. There are hundreds of these instances. Recently we had a whist drive and dance, and when a certain official heard of this, he can
celled all privilege tickets on all buses going to the town concerned. We are now told that if any driver be caught in a pub drinking in uniform, whether on duty or not, he will be instantly dismissed.
I have a proposal to make to cure all this trouble (as am sure that it would). All public-service vehicle drivers should be paid the same wages as drivers of goods types of over 12 tons laden and under the same locality grading; also ordinary overtime at time and a half, Saturday after 2 p.m. time and a half, and Sunday double pay. On spread-overs the first, 11 hours to be paid for as eight hours (even if eight hours be not worked); after. 11 hours, spread-over to be paid for at time and a half. It is my belief that this .would largely cut out spread-over duties.
We have spare drivers starting at '3 p.m. every-day and working until 11.15 p.m. with never an early turn, yet forced to do this under the E.W.O. Before you complain. about bus drivers there should be same national conditions laid down by a proper Wages Board. If these be broken it will be time to criticize.
The several companies in one combine may pay rates of wages which vary fairly widely although the operating conditions are much the same. No one can explain why this should be. Let us, therefore, have fair play for the drivers as a proper start for any campaign for improve
ment. Bus DRIVER. Shaftesbury.