Stop-work Meeting Cost Board £l9l

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 14

Stop-work Meeting Cost Board £l9l

Regret that the Transport Board, at a difficult financial time, had lost £l9l as a result of the recent stop-wort meeting in Latimer square was expressed by the chairman (Mr J. R. Smith) at the board’s meeting yesterday. Revenue lost amounted to an estimated £412, but as the men, both traffic and workshops staff, had lost £220 in wages, the net loss to the board was £l9l. This, said Mr E. J. Bradshaw, chairman of the financial committee, was infinitesimal compared with the incon-

venlence suffered by bus pasengers. “The whole result came from ill-conceived Government policy,” said Mr H. E. Denton. “There comes a time when protest is the only thing.” It was still regrettable, said Mr Smith, that the board should lose £l9l at a time when it was doing all it could to reduce ever-increasing costs. Mr R. Jones: Surely the principle of democracy is more important? Mr Smith: It is important I am merely saying it is regrettable we Should lose £l9l when we can ill afford it An increase in wage rates in the new mechanics’ award would cost the board a further £1578 a year, members were told. An application by the board’s inspectorial staff, for a bonus on years of service with the board—a bonus is being paid to Transport Workers’ Union men—was declined, "after full and careful consideration.” The decision was contested by Labour Party members of the board, but carried on a division, 54. “In view of the salary rates naw being paid to inspectors, and the nature of their work, the finance committee cannot accede to the inspectors' application for a bonus,” said a report before the board.