LTB OFFERS BUSMEN TWICE THE NORM
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
ONDON TRANSPORT surprised its 1-4 busmen as much as outsiders when it offered pay rises of up to 20s. a week when replying last week to the union's claim for a " substantial " increase. The offer represents an increase of just over 7 per cent—twice the 3 to 3f per cent " norm " laid down by the Government's incomes policy—and appears to make London Transport a distinct candidate for having to justify its action before the National Board for Prices and Incomes. If this should happen, the Board seems ready to do so, for it bases its action firrnlv on the recommendation of the Phelps Brown Committee of Inquiry. which investigated London busmen's pay last year, that when rates of pay came under review, regard must be had to the movement of earnings of other employments in the London area. Since the last pay settlement the Board reckons that earnings of skilled and semi-skilled time workers have gone up by 5 per cent, while underground workers have had a rise of 9 per cent. Their 7 per cent offer was, therefore, justified. The offer, hammered out at talks spread over nine hours, has not yet been accepted by the busmen—and there is no hurry, as it is not due to come into effect until June 23. The main cause for dissatisfaction among the men's negotiating committee is that the offer would give conductors is. a week less than drivers, thus increasing the differential. They would have preferred the £2,000,000 offer to be shared out equally. But this London Transport resisted. The talks provided another surprise when Mr. Robert Ottaway, London Transport chief negotiator, told the union that he proposed to release the terms of the offer as soon as it had been made. This he did, a statement being. issued at lunch time when the union side withdrew to consider the offer.
MULTIPLICITY OF DUPLES
On Monday Mr. George Ewer, right, chairman of George Ewer and Co., the Standard Hill coach operators, received the keys of the 25,000t1»,ehicle to be built by Duple Motor' Bodies Ltd. from the cowmuffs chairman, Mr. H. W. Sydenham. This coach, a Duple Bella Vega 41 seater, will he the 100th Bedjard-Duple in the Ewer fleet. On the left is Mr. Swallow, chairman and managing director of
Vauxhall Motors Ltd.
The Board's proposals would mean the basic rate of the Central Bus driver being increased by 19s. per week. Proposed increases for others were as follows; Central Bus conductor, 18s.; country bus driver, 18s., conductor, 17s.; Green Line single-deck coach driver, I8s. 6d., conductor, 17s.; Green Line double-deck coach driver, 19s., conductor, 18s. The statement added that the Board had informed the union that it was unable to make any immediate change in the present holiday pay. But consideration to this matter would be given later. When the talks resumed the union negotiators pressed very hard for improve ments. They finally gained two. The first was an improvement of Is, all round in the weekly increase, which brought this up from 6-7 to just over 7 percent. The second was the concession of an extra Ll per week in holiday pay, starting in the summer of 1966. While the talks were still on, a London Transport spokesman warned that the higher wages were bound to lead to another rise in fares. The latest proposals will put most Central Bus drivers into the £1,000-a-year class. Their basic wage will go up to £15 3s. 6d. a week. But in addition they get another £3 a week for such things as spread-overs, early starts and late finishes and week-end work. And there is a further £1 for working one rest day. Basic rates for other crews as a result of the offer will be: Central Bus conductor, El 4 7s. 6d, a week; Country Bus driver, .£14 5s.; conductor, £13 I Is, 6d.; Green Line single-deck coach driver, £14 17s. 6d.; conductor, £13 1 ls. 6d.; Green Line double-deck coach driver,
£15 :Is. 6d., conductor, £14 7s. 6d.