Bus drivers “satisfied”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33600, 31 July 1974, Page 1

Bus drivers “satisfied”

Most Christchurch bus drivers have accepted their union officials’ explanation for the sudden calling of a strike on July 3, according to a former vice-president of the union (Mr F. Cane).

Any attempts to remove the union sec- | retary (Mr K. A. Challender) or the acting president at the time (Mr E. Armitt) at next month’s annual meeting would be bound to fail, Mr Cane said. Mr Cane, supported by! other union members includ-; ing some originally opposed! to the strike, said last even-1 ing that a big majority were) satisfied at the outcome oil the matter, and were not in-1 terested in prolonging it. Immediately after the stop -; page, many bus drivers were annoyed about the strike and! especially the short notice at! which it was called. There! 'was only about 10 hours be-! tween the meeting of the! Canterbury Trades Council; which asked member unions! to stop in protest against the use of injunctions against, unions, and the time that the: first buses next day were; scheduled to run. ■ A special meeting of the (bus drivers’ union, the Tram-* I way Union, was held on July 14 to hear an explanation! ;from officials. Although it was at a time I when most drivers were free! and in spite of being ade-I quatelv advertised, the meet- ‘ ing had attracted only about 160 out of more than 3001 ! members. said Mr Cane. The; irest were "not interested.” i "The meeting accepted, by about 33 votes to 22, the offi-l cials* explanation for calling | I the strike—and for most; 'members that was where it; ! ended,” Mr Cane said. At the same meeting, the! ;executive had made it union | ipolicy that members decide) I for themselves about all stoppages at a meeting before-* 'hand. J Mr Cane was indignant, .about the reported comments' iof a Transport Board mem[ber, Mr N. C. Muirson, that isome Christchurch bus drivers were trying to find ways jto eliminate "militants.” i "Mr Muirson should con-' ;centrate on running affairs t upstairs, and leave union' «'matters to us,” Mr Cane said.'