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Bus Workers Want National Conciliation Machinery
Page 83
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ABETTER understanding between employers and employees in the road-passenger.transport industry is urgently needed. Disturbing references to possible strike action have become all too frequent for the prosperity of commercial enterprise, for the security of workers and for the convenience of the public. Before operatives decide to cease work, let them remember the example of the Dublin strike, which resulted in such a serious permanent loss of traffic that fares had to he raised' in an effort to make good the decline in receipts.
A strike opens up the way for the biggest competitor of the bus—the bicycle. Many persons who, as the result of a prolonged stoppage of transport services, are obliged to use bicycles, are not likely readily to discard them when operation is resumed. A permanent (or semi-permanent) loss of traffic ensues and bus workers jeopardize their own employment.
Unconstitutional Methods.
It may be that modern road conditions, calling, as they do, for instantaneous decisions on the part of drivers, have had the psychological effect on bus workers of making them impatient of negotiation. A few political hotheads—who, in their mistaken zeal, harm, instead of benefit, their cause—fan the embers of discontent and a flare-sip occurs. The Transport and General Workers Union maintains that as a final resort, the right to strike must be preserved, but it pins its faith to amicable negotiation.
Let. us examine the case of the workers. It is based on three main principles. First, they argue that they have not benefited sufficiently—financially and otherwise—by the stabilization and protection for operators afforded by the Road Traffic Act, 1930, The men feel that, in view of the healthy financial condition of many bus companies, which has been promoted partly by the operation of the Act, they are not being adequately rewarded.
Heavy Legal Responsibilities.
Rather have they suffered, for they have been surrounded by rules and regulations, a breach of which may bring. serious consequences. Employers cannot, of course, be held responsible for this circumstance.
Secondly, there has been a general speeding-up of operation, imposing additional stress upon the men. Accelerated services may, in part, be responsible for this condition, but it is aggravated by increased traffic congestion, which necessitates higher speeds in order to maintain schedules that might have been unimpeachable a few years ago. Thirdly. social changes—the migration of the population from the centres of towns and cities, and the different habits of the public—have created new problems of spread-over duties. These duties tend to increase in duration and number, not only from the causes mentioned, hut due also, on rural services, to the working of Section 19.
Operatives also complain that, in the desire to obtain maximum seating capacity in buses, there is a tendency to reduce the size of drivers' cabs, with detrimental effects upon passenger safety, The National Committee of the Union has been asked to confer with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on this matter.
Reducing Spread-over Duties.
All reasonable employers will doubtless agree with the men upon the desirability of reducing spread-over duties. This is probably the biggest stumbling block in the way of industrial harmony. Where such duties cannot be eliminated, the workers suggest that a maximum period should he determined and that the masters should make some concession in respect of the wasted time, the burden of which, it is stated, is at present borne wholly by the employees. Straight duties, with or without intervals for meals, are preferred.
Provincial bus workers are amongst the strongest critics of Section 19, although it was designed to safeguard their interests, as well as to protect the public safety. Moreover, this clause does not apply to conductors.
They are also dissatisfied with the operation of Section 93 (relating to wages and conditions), which, . they contend, does not afford adequate protection to properly negotiated agreements. Additionally, as the Section is allied to the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons (1909), low wages and poor conditions cannot, in certain cases, be dealt with under it. Part of the responsibility for this state of affairs is attributed to the Government, which, it is stated, has not faithfully discharged certain obligations.
By means of a plan devised by the T.G.W.U., it might be possible to abandon both Sections, so far as passenger-vehicle operators are concerned. The practicability of the scheme depends, however, upon the establishment of national voluntary conciliation machinery acceptable to both parties.
Simplifying Hours Provisions.
Briefly, the project envisages the reaching of a national agreement, under which work schedules and rotas would be prepared for the approval of the Traffic Commissioners and the Industrial Court. Observance of this agreement would be sufficient compliance with the Act and would he a condition of every road service licence. So long, however, as the Union has to negotiate with individual ohncerns this object will be unattainable.
The Union is striving for the formation of joint conciliation machinery in respect of both company and municipal bus workers in the provinces, or, failing such agreement, a separate joint council for each section of the industry. It may be argued that the differences in the circumstances of operation by companies and municipal undertakings are such that a combination of forces in matters concerning workers is impossible. The Union denies the truth of that contention.
Fine Conciliation Record.
A national conditions agreement for municipal bus operatives has already been reached and, under it, provision is made for local negotiation on the broad terms laid down. Similar procedure would be followed in the case of companies. Conciliation machinery for tramways workers has been in existence for 16 years and, we understand. hardly a decision of the Joint Industrial Council or its sub-committees has ever been questioned by either side.
These, then, are the requirements of the workers. Whilst maintaining an open mind as to the reasonable nature of the demands concerning wages and conditions, we consider that the status of the road-passenger-transport industry calls for the establishment of national conciliation machinery that will ensure an harmonious relationship between masters and men.