Big London Bus Pay Claim Expected
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A LTERNATIVE proposals for L—t improving the earnings of London busmen are to be made by the Transport and General Workers' Union, following the rejection of the London Transport Executive's proposed bonus scheme (The Commercial Motor, last week).
The union's alternative will be a heavy pay claim. Some members of the London Busmen's Negotiating Committee have been talking, unofficially, in terms of .£2 to £2 14s. a week more. T.G.W.U. officials are expecting a settlement in pounds, rather than shillings.
In a statement last Friday the Executive commented on the meeting between Mr. Frank Cousins, general secretary of the T.G.W.U., and the L.T.E. chairman, Mr. A. B. B. Valentine. The union had asked for an inquiry into the wages and conditions of employment of London Transport platform staff.
Inquiry Rejected
Mr, Valentine said that there was no . . • . need to set up an external inquiry. It wascommon ground that, in order to improve the recruitment and retention of staff in London, it was desirable that the earnings of the bus crews should be increased. As the representatives of the staff had rejected the bonus scheme, went on the London Transport statement, Mr. Valentine suggested that the union should now make alternative proposals for improving the errnings of the busmen. Negotiations. between the Executive and the union could then take place on the proposals. .
The union Said on Friday that it would forwaid the proposals in due course.
Mr. Cousins said. last week that he was concerned about the deterioration in bus services due to staff shortage. This situation had been brought about by bad working conditions. including a considerable amount of week-end working and overtime, and the relatively low earning capacity.
FEWER WENT TO SHOW
ACCORDING to the Society of Manufacturers and Traders, only 98,325 people attended the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court this year, compared with the 106,558 in 1958. This was a drop of 8,233 people.
Some exhibitors told The Commercial Motor that there was a tendency for operators to ask manufacturers to bring vehicles to them for demonstration to avoid the need for visiting London for the Show.
BEDFORD IN PARIS
TWO examples of the new Bedford TIC forward-control range are exhibited by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., at the Paris Motor Show which opened yesterday and closes on October 16. They are a longwheelbase 7-tonner and a 10-ton tractor unit. Also on view are a long-wheelbase CA 15-cwt. van and a 4-ton normalcontrol model. A full report of commercial vehicle exhibits in Paris will appear in The Commercial Motor next week.