The Newsletter: Busmen's special

UNITY IN ACTION. These three words, we believe, sum up the role that must be played by the rank and file of the Labour movement in. the struggles facing us on both the political ‘and economic fronts. .. Lhat. is why we fully endorse the . Conference called by The Newsletter in London on November 16, _ It will give the rank and file a chance to. put forward their ideas on how: to secure the kind of life which is our birthright: freedom from want’ and war, and the life of plenty that atomic energy, properly used, could give.

The Conference,.we hope, will draw up, a programme of action on which HE_ bus strike has ended in defeat for the ~ London busmen. This is now obvious to all. After six weeks of solidarity which were an example to the whole working class, the London Transport Executive has pushed through the first set of service cuts.

By the end of January there will be 10 per cent. fewer buses on the London streets. For the travelling public thig means more waiting and longer queues. For the busmen it means longer hours and harder work, But the busmen will be ‘no better off financially. The LTE expects that average earnings of crews will be the same in the coming winter as they were last winter, ‘if not a ‘few coppers less’, This in spite of the 8s. 6d. award to central London drivers and conductors. The increase will be lost in the ‘reduction of Sunday working and overtime. (The .LTE hopes to do away with overtime altogether in the new year, as it is too expensive.)

The 14,000: ‘forgotten men’ have been forced to

accept’ a miserable Ss.;and redundancy. has hit the inside staffs—so far, the LTE has. stated that 600 of these men are no- longer required.

How has it been possible for the LTE and the Tory Government to deliver such a powerful blow against the busmen? There is only one‘ possible answer: bad trade union leadership.

On Sunday, May 4, the day before the strike began, Frank Cousins, speaking in Birmingham, argued that @ are not taking on the Overnmaent’, "

branch, Amalgamated Enginering Hall, London, on Sunday, November 16. success.

By doing so. we will be preparing for the coming struggles.

Yours fraternally, /

G. Wilcock, president Salford branch, National Union of Vehicle Builders T.. Curly, shop steward, NUVB A. Pope, shop steward, Electrical Trades Union L. Faweett, secretary joint shop stewards and president of Gorton 3rd J. Conway, shop steward, National Union. of Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers busmen fought on behalf of the whole working class? VAM Ct agi yes AU "

Remember how the leaders of the Trades Union Congress stabbed the busmen in the back in their hour of need?

:

Remember how ordinary rank-and-file workers, militants in other industries, did their best to awaken their workmates to the need for the utmost solidarity action with the busmen?

Remember how each week of the strike The Newsletter devoted half its space to the Strike Bulletin, written by and for rank-and-file busmen?

This Busmen’s Special is also produced as a supplement to The Newsletter, which has called a national rank-and-file Conference at the Holborn Cousins had developed: the — battle against the real opponents ‘of the working r class, the results would have been very different.

Other sections of the Transport and General Workers’ Union should have been involved immediately: an approach should have been made to the rank-and-file railwaymen; the offer of support from the Electrical Trades Union should have been accepted.

The Underground system would thus have been stopped, ;

In a word, only industrial and political extension of the strike could have ensured victory.

Is it correct to lay the blame for the

After almost seven weeks on strike the busmen returned to work to find cuts in schedules, the closing of garages and the threatened sacking of 600 maintenance men.

What is their opinion on these matters? What lessons have they learned from the strike? Do they consider the rank-and-file Conference called by The Newsletter can help their fight on the buses? -.At the Norbiton garage, I interviewed the representative, Bro. G. Morgan—better known to the lads as ‘Taffy’. Originally from the Rhondda Valley, he has been on the buses for ten years.

‘If the cuts are imposed, there will be . even more work for the conductors than at present. More people will leave and so there will be another round of cuts next year,’ he told me.

‘The actions of the London Transport Executive during the strike, and now, are in. my opinion directed from No, 10 Downing Street.’

CAN HELP UNITY

file Conference: ‘If the working class don’t stand together now, they will be defeated. I remember 1926 and often tell my mates what they are in for if they allow the employers to attack them without fighting back together. ‘A conference of workers from different industries is a good thing. It can help to unite the movement.’

Trolley-bus conductor John Loader has been employed by the LTE for eleven years. Formerly chairman of the Colindale bus strugele £9 3s, 2d.

“You see what I mean?’ said Bro. Sears. ‘they can’t attract staff because they pay so badly, so they have to reduce services. ‘The union must resist these cuts. Otherwise they will. hit us even harder,’ branch, 1/269, he too welcomed the Confer- Reg Moore is angry about the cuts, and ence. especially at the news that 600 maintenance ;

Bro. Loader was of the opinion that buses men are to be sacked. Employed at Fulwell, should be a public service and if there was he represents the inside staff from four any saving to be done, then it should be garages at the Delegate Conference. at the expense of the former shareholders. ‘I notice there are no cuts in the higher “We should fight to make the bus services paid people or in their salaries. Sir John into a genuine socialized industry under the Elliot got a nice wage increase recently,’ he control of the workers,’ he said. remarked.

He wanted to see the Labour Party and the trades councils leading a campaign It was also the opinion of Jack Hammond, against the cuts. He went on: ‘This is a

He was enthusiastic about the rank-andGovernment sponsored decision,’ and the a Hounslow driver, that the buses are an essential service and not meant for profit. Labour Party must give a lead against it.’

A veteran in the Labour movement, back Asked his views about the rank-and-file in 1922 he was secretary-organizer of the Conference, he said: ‘From a busman’s point Hammersmith unemployed movement. of view, a rank-and-file conference is essenFrom 1946 to 1951 he was secretary of tial. During the strike we tried to spread Staines and Egham Trades Council and at it, to bring other sections in to support. present is a delegate from his union branch to that body. LORDS AND KNIGHTS “Your idea of a rank-and-file conference “You know what happened and what the is a start to making the unions do their TUC did to us.’ What else can you expect iobs,’ he told me. ‘If the leaders won’t lead, from the lords and knights at the top? We then the rank and file must find an alterna- must rely on the rank and file.’ tive. A member of the National Union of On the cuts he had this to say: ‘To com- Vehicle Builders. Fred Walton is employed bat these cuts, we should work strictly. to as_a coach-builder in the Hendon garage. rule, with a policy of non-co-operation.’ Bro. Walton feels there should be one Secretary of the Shepherds Bush branch industrial union for all transport workers. is Bro, Sears, who considers that one of the He cited the isolation of the busmen in the reasons for the cuts is the low wages bus- recent dispute. men receive. ‘Wouldn’t it have been better,’ he asked, One of the conductors in his garage ‘if they had been in the same union as the showed us his wage packet, which, after tube men and the railway workers—and of stoppages. recorded the princely sum of course the skilled men in those industries?

The Conference is open to all workers who want to discuss the building of a. rank-and-file movement to resist the employers’

attacks. Applications for delegates’ credentials should be sent to: Conference, Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4. failure to do this on the shoulders of the TGWU general secretary?

1 think it is, for it was he who won the vital delegate conference against extension in the TGWU. He spoke before and after the debate, and he promised that he had other Proposals to offer the delegates—proposals: which were never forthcoming.

In this sense, the vote of the delegates against extension was largely a vote of confidence in Cousins. An extension to other sections in the first week would have had unanimous support, and would have brought speedy victory.

:

It is true that the Trades Union Congress General Council was not prepared to heliv. But did anybody with any knowledge of these knights of the Labour movement expect otherwise?

TORIES’ FIFTH COLUMN

These people are entrenched in the capitalist system. They are the fifth column of the Tory Party and the bitter enemies of trade unionists. And Cousins, by Opposing extension, was playing their game.

Indeed the reason why Cousins did not use the platform at the recent TUC to expose the General Council’s reactionary role was that if he had done so he would have shed light on the part he himself played.

The lessons of the strike must be learned by all. We must not make the same mistakes again.

;

FIRST, we should realize that no section of the Labour movement can win its demands—even limited demands—in isolation, ISOLATED FROM MEMBERS The employers work together, and they’ work with the active support of the Tory Government. Only a counter-offensive by Labour can defeat this alliance.

SECONDLY, we must have no confidence in the officials who sit on the TUC General These people, with their fat pay packets, knighthoods and television appearances, are isolated from their members, and are (Continued overleaf, col. 3)

\ IN the last fifteen months there have been two major bus strikes.

provincia! men, like their London brothers, fought a most gallant and determined battle. Yet it must be said that both these disputes were fought as the Tories wanted them to be fought-——with one section striking separately from the rest.’

Everyone can see that the aim of the Government is to avoid a conflict either the smaller unions, such as the health workers, or weaker groups such with the largest: sections of the working class—to try.and isolate and defeat as. the London busmen:

Unfortunately the union leaders have completely failed. to develop a policy that can defeat this strategy.

dustry could multiply our strength tremend- Surely we in the passenger transport inously if the London busmen, the provincial men and those. working for the municipali- ties lodged their claims together.

This would bring all the strength of the bus .workers to bear on the employers and their Government.

IT’S THE LULLABY OF 55 Newsletter Industrial Correspondent Whatever qualifications are. demanded of the members of London Transport Executive experience of working on a bus is not high oni the list.

Or Not one of the eight men on.the LTE has ever. worked in e he industry. , Sydney Henry Leake, one of the part-time members, has had a varied career in_ his 60 years.

Besides having seen service with a military ‘ mission in: Russia in 1917, he has been attached to the War Office, the Ministry of ‘Munitions’ and the Colonial Office.

INVESTMENT TRUST

At. present he is chairman and senior manager of ‘the Lewis Investment Trust, among whose: associated companies are Selfridge’s and Bon “Marché.

His. servicés to the LTE are rewarded with £1,000 a year.

The .chairman, Sir John (My attitude is. a tough ‘one’) Elliot, who recently received a. small “salary increase—a. mere £500 a year~-has had what might be. considered an excellent training for understanding the peeds of the ‘travelling public and of the workers: .who. run’ the ‘industry. . Like-all.the really expert drivers’and con-.duétors he was educated at Marlborough and Sandhurst, isa member of the Cayalry Club (entrance “fee. 30 guineas, annual subscription 7 to 20 guineas) and his hobbies are gardening and shooting. ACCEPTED ‘A KN IGHTHOOD ; Newsletter, May 10). L: C; Hawkins; whose salary has: been’ increased from £3, S00°a year to £5,000, spent his. pre- “retirement life as a civil servant, and was. something. of a specialist, in. edu- , ‘Perhaps 61-year-old. Sir Charles Geddes is cational ‘finance.

closer to the workers? He at least has a trade union. background.

However, for, years now Sir Charles: has been a: full-time official, and -his decision to. accépt a -knig hthood scarcely shows ‘much of a desire to. get closer :to the \ ‘How rhuch do they cost altogether, this bevy - at 55 Broadwe M Onl £30,500 a year in SEPTEMBER 1958 6 WEEKS OF 7 ‘STRUGGLE WHAT THE STRIKE Here are extracts from articles which appeared in-The Newsletter,and in the Strike Bulletin published as a supplement to The Newsletter, during: ‘the London bus dispute: -Most crucial May Day ‘The busmen’s strike ‘is: the responsibil:

ity of the entire working-class movement, including the Labour Party. Every effort should be made to ‘extend’ the strike’ to other transport workers in the London area... ‘We salute the busmen, pledge the fullest backing of our paper and. its supporters to their struggle, and-call on the entire working ‘class to rally round the strikers’ (The Newsletter, May 3).

;

Bring down the ‘show-down’

‘Support. the busmen! This is the slogan of the hour. The employers are not: stand: ing still; they are mobilizing to smash the» strike.

‘Neither must the, workers stand still. Strikes. ate won or lost in the first ° few days. The necessary solidarity action’ ‘must come speedily. Any drdgging of feet, any faith in pious formulas, could lead only: ome the defeat of the whole working , class’ (The Don't leave the’ busmen. to fight alone» ‘A major-responsibility for the busmeri’s isolation must. rest on Frank Cousins. The: strike is almost a fortnight old and-he ‘has done nothing to call out other sections of his membership in support’ (The Newsletter, May 17).

Solidarity action now!

‘After three weeks the busmen stand as_ solid as a rock. But a note of warning needs to be xounded. For (hough the busmen are

A start can’ be made ‘now in developing Holloway bus branch (1/377) of the the essential unity among. busmen all over |.

Transport and. General. Workers’ the. country. The present Busmen’s Special can help to lay the basis for a national Union has launched an: appeal on bebusmen’s paper. on the tubes during. the bus strike. ; half of the man who cut off the juice Such a paper could serve the aim_ of)

Jinking the activity of ‘busmen’ in various He is John Frederick Smith, of -out a common _policy—which to date our localities and. sections and help: to work Clapham Road, S.W.9.. He supports a wife and thtee young children. ‘leaders have failed to. provide.

A circular from Holloway to all. branches involved in the strike says: - * ‘We may not agree that this man *s. method of helping us was. the best way, but -we cannot deny that he acted: from" ‘the finest motives. ‘Would there were ‘more’ possessed with such. feeling of ‘class ‘solidarity! ‘Fifty thousand bus workers need not feel

proud of the fact that few of us have come busman) to this man to inquire whether he: was dead The London bus strike was just or alive, in poverty or sickness. . ~ ‘It is reckoned that he is about £60 in debt twelve hours old. The smallest bus as a result of: his attempt to assist the bus branch in Manchester, one of a group workers, and twenty-one central bus delegates {including members of the CBC) havo, of seven, took a decision to act. « » DPB Bes Yad

assist the London men—proposals such as Emergency tor Labour financial: aid and. token action.

As we were anxious to act. with all pos- |. ‘The Tory ‘Government is out to smash busmen would mean.

sible speed. it was. decided to send a telegram the busmen—and then. smash other sections. : giving a synopsis of the resolution and ex- The trade union movement cannot let it plaining that the full, text was following by succeed. ‘letter. : ; wes “The workers must. use their full power os The. sender of the ‘resolution, in his haste. a better service to ensure a decisive victory for the busmen, used the word. ‘instruct’ instead of ‘request’

and to. bring down the employers’. Governe to. the: secretary of the regional: office.

ment that is seeking to force’ them to their knees’ (Strike Bulletin, May 31), coe By DOUG. TILLEY (Brixton garage) “Two days elapsed. Then came. the rocket.

A slap in the face and a stab in the A. letter from the ‘regional secretary arrived informing, us: Public transport should be recognized (8) Summer holidays to cover the period back Looe “You do ‘not instruct a regional secre- as a public service in the same way ‘as May to September, and a compensa;- tary. After all the strike is only two days the fire brigades, police and. public tory payment to be made if they have “The workers who pay trade union ‘con-. “cold... . we will-give the lead? libraries. to be taken. in March, April or tributions have a right to know—who are ‘Fhe branch replied by. withdrawing the : ne the Tory stoogeson the General: Council .word ‘instruct’ but: adding that ‘they. were A service.should be provided to meet the: Most of these points—except the 50 per who argued against helping the busmen? determined to carry on and help the London public’s needs. It should not be based on cent. pension—are common practice in most ‘If the decision not: to lift a. finger: in men. its ability to. ‘pay. its way’, their support means anything it means that ;

The branch set out to: raise money. The ; The recent cuts in London bus services, For instance, building workers are paid . men in high places in our movement, who first week we collected ‘about £50 and during’ and the intended cuts, are not.being made fivepence an hour on their basic rate when take high salaries out of.our contributions, the period of the. strike raised about £300. ' because the public do not. need the buses, (on shift work. starting after. 5. p.m.; yet are hand in glove with the employers they ‘The other six branches followed suit after: but. because ‘the -buréaucrats:..of the London building workers have some of the worst are supposed to be fighting’ (Strike Bulletin, the second week. Jxansport Executive must keep their books working conditions: June 7). a “. Never once did'a‘full-time officer ‘come to ; tidy, oe : the garage to. help or. give advice and en- One way of providing a decent public -| Greatest fignt since °26 strike ““couragement.. on transport ‘system. would be ‘by subsidies.

Pas I believe the time has come to demand ‘All’ we received was the usual receipt and. Most ofthe “public transport ‘services in. better working conditions, and to ‘make the ‘If leaders who grovel in. the muck and thanks from ‘the. regional officer. Not one! cities throughout the world,:including most busman’s job: regain’ its place as one of the filth of -knighthoods. and ‘honours ‘lists: are officer of any stature came toa’ branch meet-; British cities, are subsidized. best. in, Britain. too scared. to. lead—let them. get out. and ing to explain what was happening in Lon- But the LTE is opposed: to this, on the In Brixton garage we work a ‘married , make room for men (Strike Bulletin, June on, ground. that ‘it would: mean: interference rota’. This means we have about two weeks’

The branch showed how rank-and-file de-: by. the local council or whoever is paying on a route, then change to another: route -fermination and inlitiative can; overrule‘ the subsidy, and amateurs would be running for two weeks and so on. Rank-and-file movement the machine. This is a valuable lesson for ‘the, buses: and not the “experts.” Apart from Clapham I. believe we are the future struggles. the only garage working this way. ‘Leaders who will not fight, ot who ‘stab . EIGHT ESSENTIAL POINTS Are there any advantages in this? - Would workers in the back while they are in. a ‘But if the buses were run so.as'to provide it be better if the whole ficet worked this Struggle, have got to be removed: an adequate service, and: not -on their ability way?. I should like to have fellow-workers’ “The best way to get them out, and to to ‘pay their way’, the busmen’s working comments about this and. about the. other develop. the fight ° against © the ° bosses’ con itions could be considerably improved. points raised. offensive, is to build a strong’ rank-and-file The following eight points are in my view What about going to your branch and movement, rooted in the garages‘and depots, essential to our conditions of. employment, raising these points? What about ‘getting on the.docks and building sites; in’ the pits and. should. be incorporated in any future some discussion. going in_ preparation ‘for and. workshops. me

|. demands: to the LTE: the national rank-and-file Conference called ‘This is the most important lesson’ of tha. at by The Newsletter on November 16? bus strike’ (S trike Bulletin, June 21),' ae Garston. depot) (1). Employment. to be on a permanent basis. SERVICE CUT Sco: ton vas mo : ' A: strong feeling exists among Liver- (2) Payment. of full wages when sick, less pool busmen ‘for extra pay for early national insurance. benefit. and late duties, because these duties: (3)s A non-contributory pension scheme interfere with a normal social life. (including women) so as to provide, more concerned with maintaining their workers—a movement capable of . giving We also want increased payment for time 4. with the statutory pension, a.50 per positions and ‘their ‘respectability’ than in effective and militant leadership. off between split shifty cent. pay on retirement. leading the. workers. against the bosses. There is not a job in the country that All ‘busmen’s wage claims should be (4) Recognition that. we are shift workers THIRDLY, it is impossible to separate has deteriorated so much in pay and ‘conlodged’ jointly. The ‘submission. of three: and that all work performed before industrial battles from political battles. The ditions in the last two decades as has the ‘different: wage claims splits us. and weakens .7-a.m. and after 7 p.m. should carry Tories are determined to smash the trade bus job.

: our: bargaining. power..One wage claim’ a penalty payment. unions and drive down the workers’ living If ‘we. continue to leave it: to the paid: would’ unite all bus workers. be (8) All work’after 1 p.m. Saturday should standards. Their Rent Act has taken a good officials,’ what will it be like twenty years : : '.. I: welcome the rank-and-file Conference £1 from the pay packets of many of us. from now? a called: by The Newsletter. Bas be at time-and-a-half.’ : These are. political attacks, and must be That is why we busmen who’ support The ; : It is a-good idea to. get workers from (6) All Sunday work should be.at double met with vigour'by the entire Labour move- Newsletter hope that busmen will be well different industries. to discuss their. prob- time, ment. : represented at the national industrial rankjems:“An- exchange of ‘opinions is a. good (7), All: Bank ‘Holiday: work shouldbe at FOURTHLY, there is a need for:a rank- and-file Conference called by The Newsletter _ at. the Holborn Halt on Sunday, November a double time. -and-file. movement among all sections of ~ Printed by Plough Press Lid. (TU), 7.6. 160 Clapham High Sty London SWa Published. by The: Newsletter, 180° Claphara High St, London, SW4, La