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164 
PAY RISE FOR COMPANY BUSMEN
Page 58
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FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE last chapter in the present series of bus pay claims virtually came to an end on Tuesday when the National Council for the Omnibus Industry agreed to pay rises ranging from 10s. 6d. to 14s. a week for 100,000 company busmen. It only required endorsement by a delegate conference of men from the six unions involved for these to come into effect and this, despite some proposed protest action, was expected to be given at a meeting being held yesterday (Thursday).
As most people expected, the increases were in line with those granted last month to 70,000 municipal busmen. But it took more than nine hours heated argument before a sub-committee was able, last week, to reach a joint recommendation to put before the full council.
The final agreement provides for an extra 14s. a week on minimum weekly rates for drivers and 10s. 6d. for conductors. Skilled maintenance workers will get an extra 14s. a week on their basic rates and semi-skilled and unskilled maintenance workers an extra 10s. 6d. All employees who have completed five years' continuous service will get three extra days holiday a year. The claim for a shorter working week was rejected.
On the drivers' minimum wage of
£10 17s. 3d. the 14s. increase represents a rise of about 6-4 per cent--just about double the Government's "guiding light" of 3 to 3-5 per cent. For conductors the increase is around 5 per cent.
• The pay settlement will cost the companies more than £5m. a year in higher wages and is almost certain to lead to higher fares. The Midland Red company, for example, expects to have to pay an extra £450,000 in a full year. Mr. Donald M. Sinclair, the company's general manager, commented: "We shall have to consider the position, but it is almost certain we shall have to apply for an increase in fares ".
Another bus settlement reached last week affected 5,000 craftsmen employed in municipal undertakings. The National Joint Council agreed to an increase of 4d. an hour.
The only outstanding issue in the road passenger field is the final report of the Phelps Brown Committee of Inquiry into the pay and conditions of London busmen. Although the committee has been putting in extra time, including week-end work, it is now expected to be nearer the end of the month before its report is ready for publication.