Bus Pay Strike Threat Called Off
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FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
rE strike threat by 100,000 private clompany busmen in the provinces was lifted this week. Leaders of the six unions involved decided instead, by a majority vote, to refer the dispute over higher pay and improved conditions to arbitration.
The suggestion to go to arbitration came originally from the employers. In fact, it was the only new proposal to come out of an eight-hour meeting of the National Council for the Omnibus Industry. It was promptly rejected by the unions.
However, the employers bluntly refused to make any monetary offer whatsoever. Even the arbitration proposal was a step forward from the position they had previously taken up in talks with Ministry of Labour conciliation officers.
Since a board of arbitration has already been set up to hear the parallel claim on behalf of 70,000 municipal busmen—it met for the first time on Wednesday— there is now a danger of two tribunals awarding different amounts for similar claims.
It is possible, however, that Sir Ronald Morison, Q.C., who is hearing the municipal claim, may also be asked to decide in the matter of the private companies dispute.