Reply Next Week to London Wage Claim
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A REPLY to the London busmen's
second application for a 25s. a week pay increase will be given next Wednesday by the London Transport Executive. Further talks were held last week following the L.T.E.'s outright refusal of the claim when it was first presented (The Commercial Motor, December I3).
Two new arguments were put forward by the Transport and General Workers' Union at the second meeting. Mr. H. R. Nicholas, the Union's assistant general secretary, drew attention to a further rise of one point in the Retail Price Index, and wage increases in several other industries.
He suggested that the five-point rise in the Index since the London busmen last received a pay award—in January. 1957— was sufficient in itself to justify an increase of 9s. a week. He thought the Union had a sound case, despite Government pronouncements on higher wages.
Mr. A. Bull, the L.T.E.'s labour relations member, replied that the new points would be put before the full Executive. The busmen have demanded some form of industrial action if their request is rejected again.
CHRISTMAS COACH TRAFFIC SPREAD
DECAUSE of the mid-week Christmas.
the seasonal traffic into and out of Victoria Coach Station, London, was more evenly spread last week than in previous years. Departures began building up on the Sunday preceding Christmas and rose to a peak on Christmas Eve, when about 600 coaches left for different parts of the country. In these few days some 70,000 people left the station.
Return traffic was greatest last Sunday, when some 800 coach arrivals were handled. Many people took long Christmas holidays, postponing their return until the New Year. This was particularly the case with wives and children who left London for a holiday of a week or so whilst the fathers joined them for only a few days at Christmas itself.