Union Win Dispute Over Coach Drivers' Pay
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AN industrial court recommended .1"—i last week that coach drivers employed by five subsidiary companies of Western Engineering and Motor Services, Ltd., Clevedon, Som., should revert to terms and conditions of employment set out in an agreement made last March, which was later rescinded.
The dispute arose from the employers' proposal to put into operation new pay rates andconditions for their coach drivers, which we're claimed by the Transport and General Workers' Union to be less favourable than those under the original agreement.
Agreement for Drivers On March 11 an agreement was entered into, on behalf of Binding and Payne, Ltd., and Clevedon-Burnells Motors (1947), Ltd., Weston-superMare; Gratton Bros., Ltd., Burnhamon-Sea; Goughs (Cheddar), itd., Cheddar; and Westbury Luxury Coaches (1952), Ltd., Bristol, and the Union, covering rates of pay and conditi,ons of employment of the drivers of coaches operated by the companies, who were wholly owned subsidiaries of Western Engineering.
Subsequently, Western Engineering sought to vary the terms of the agreement on the ground that its operation put the companies concerned at a serious disadvantage with competitors. As it was not possible for the company and Union to agree, three months' notice to terminate the agreement was given by Western Engineering.
Each employee received .a notice terminating his employment with the company, and offering re-engagement on new terms and conditions. All but eight of the drivers were ultimately re-engaged.
The Union representative submitted that the new terms and conditions of employment, introduced after November 30, 1954, were less favourable than those previously in operation and those contained in agreements between the Union and two other Bristol coach concerns.
Wrongly Cited On behalf of Western Engineering, it was submitted that they had been wrongly cited as parties to the reference to the Tribunal, as they were not the employers of the individual workers; that if any dispute existed, it was between certain members of the Union and the subsidiary companies; and that a letter to the Union, giving notice of termination of the agreement of March 11. was sent by the company acting solely as agents of the five subsidiaries.
It was submitted that, in any event, the only dispute which could have arisen was between the eight drivers who were not prepared to accept the new terms and conditions and the two subsidiaries by whom they 'Were employed. The company contended that, except during the short peak summer period, the employers were subject to heavy and increasing competition, particularly in areas outside Bristol, from many other operators, none of whom, so far as they were aware, had any agreement with the T.G.W.U. Competitors' rates and conditions of employment were, in the main, much less favourable than those set out in the employers' proposals. It was financially impractic'able to continue to observe the agreement.
Finding that Western Engineering were at all material times the employers of the workers concerned, the Tribunal awarded that the terms and conditions of employment to be applied to the workers concerned should he the terms and conditions set out in the agreement of March 11.
EAST MIDLAND'S RECORD. YEAR
nESPITE the bad summer, which had
a serious effect on traffic, East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., established records during the year ended September 30, the chairman, Mr. J. W. Womar, M.Inst.T., told the shareholders. The number of passengers carried was 46.2m., and the total mileage, 9.6m.
Economies in fuel had resulted from the operation of 29 lightweight vehicles purchased during the year. Twenty-five of these were 44-seat single-deck buses, and the remainder 41-seat coaches.
NO MORE WORKERS' 'FARES?
1N the revised application for fare increases on Leeds Corporation's bus services, which is to be heard by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority on January 11, the corporation proposes to withdraw all workmen's return fares, and to shorten fare stages.
The corporation's originalapplication was withdrawn pending the recent -wage. award.