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Decline of the Bus
Page 36
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MR. FRANK COUSINS is knocking his head against a wall in pleasurable anticipation of the relief that will come when he stops. A sore head is all he is likely to gain from the strike of London busmen, which has now been in progress for more than a month.
The damage which Mr. Cousins and his colleagues in the Transport and General Workers' Union have done to the long-term interests of London busmen was underlined last week-end by Sir John Elliot, chairman of the London Transport Executive. He pointed out that the bus had 1)assed its heyday, and that, in addition to the 4 per cent. reduction in services introduced on April 30, there would have to be a further 10 per cent. cut in October. At least 500 buses would be withdrawn and 2,500 platform staff, apart from maintenance men, would become surplus.
If the strike continues much longer the problem of redundancy may largely solve itself through resignations. In •the four weeks to May 27, 824 drivers and conductors resigned. Unfortunately, they probably represent the best element among London busmen.
Sir John declared his tough policy after the union had rejected the Executive's proposals for a resumption of work. These included an award of 8s. 6d. a week to drivers and conductors in the central area, an agreed increase for drivers of Green Line single-deck coaches and an immediate review of the wages of all other workers, possibly with the assistance of Sir John Forster, chairman of the Industrial Court.
In view of the loss of Um. revenue by London Transport during the four-week period including the first 14 days of the strike, their offer to the T.G.W.U. was generous. With every passing week, their ability to pay higher wages grows less.
The complete failure of the London strike has strengthened the hands of the municipal bus employers, who are to reply today to the claim for higher pay presented to them some weeks ago, and of the provincial bus companies, who will give their answer on Monday to a broadly similar demand. Mr. Cousins' intransigent attitude has alienated any public sympathy which the cause of London busmen might otherwise have created and has embarrassed the provincial workers in the negotiation of their own claim.