Scottish bus workers ban overtime

COMPLETELY frustrated by the long, drawn-out negotiations at national level over pay and the introduction of the 40-hour week, bus workers in Glasgow and other West of Scotland towns decided to operate a work-to-rule-the midnight last Saturday.

The national negotiations, which affect 92 cities and towns throughout Britain, have nuw been going on for two months with no sign of an agreement to improve the rates of pay, introduce bonus payments and a 40hour working week.

Glasgow bus workers are demanding that the City Transport Department should meet the claim independently of the other parties concerned in the negotiations.

In April this year Glasgow bus workers fought a tenacious struggle for improved conditions in a strike which lasted for a week. On that occasion they had to fight against the City Transport Department, local officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union, anú a scurrilous witch-hunt by the press.

CONVINCE

The employers and the press are once more trying to convince the general public that the bus workers are entirely responsible for the chaotic transport conditions arising from the overtime ban.

On this occasion, however, the action of the bus workers has the support of the local union officials. This is an indication that the workers' cause is so strong that the union officials are not able to oppose it.

But the bus workers must see that no compromise is reached between the union officials and the employers which may weaken their fight. Already an agreement has been made with the Transport Depantment to operate the modified schedules which are worked during the Glasgow Fair holiday when about 40 per cent of the population are away.

This is an attempt by the Corporation to minimise the effect of the overtime ban.

Mr. Alex Grant, secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union agreed to meet the Transport Committee on Monday and is reported to have said, 'If the committee look at it in the right way the whole thing can be resolved.' The only way in which the Transport Committee can look at the matter to the satisfaction of bus workers is to immediately concede their demands for improved pay and the shorter working week, in full.

STRAIN

With 500 unfilled vacancies it can be imagined what strain is placed on the city's 6,000 bus workers to man all the services, particularly during the winter months when the incidence of illness is high.

The present dispute does not only involve Glasgow Corporation bus workers. Scottish Omnibuses, S.M.T.,, W. Alexander & Sons are also affected by the ban which is being operated in Lanarkshire, Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire.

In West Lothian, workers at the Broxburn Garage are reported. to have come out on strike after a conductor refused - - division is generally known to ban all overtime working and ban came into operation at to operate the ban. In Aberdeen bus crews say they will be meeting this week since the negotiations are getting nowhere.

Late news ON MONDAY, Edinburgh bus crews decided to support the demand for an immediate: settlement of the busmen's claim by direct action.

Iwo hundred bus. workers attended a meeting on Monday morning and 500 attended a similar meeting in the evening.

Union officials were unable to give any lead into action from the platform.

A motion for a token strike on December 22 was thrown out in favour of a decision to stop work every Friday starting on November 27 until a settlement of the claim has been reached.

Union officials put the motion to a vote without allowing any discussion and closed the meeting immediately the vote was taken.

No preparations for the strike were made or discussed. Rank and file bus workers, however, ure raising the question of a demonstration and how to link up with other areas already in dispute.