National bus strike expected

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 16

National bus strike expected

A national strike by city bus drivers is expected on or before Friday, September 12. the Press Association reports from Wellington.

Drivers in the main centres will stop work in support of the Invercargill Tramways Union, which is fighting the Invercargill City Council’s use of women contractors to clean buses. The strike is expected to last for 24 hours, hut might be longer, particularly in Invercargill, Wellington, and i Auckland. The secretary of the Christ--1 church branch of the Tramways Union (Mr K. A. Chali lender) said he could not comment as it was a national . issue. 1 He said he was a member I of the national executive, and was keeping the local branch fully informed of develop- ; tnents. Asked if the Christchurch branch would support any strike, Mr Chailender said the branch would always follow the advice of the national executive. The Industrial Court ruled against the Invercargill union on Friday. It held that the women were independent contractors and not servants. and consequently did not come under the coverage of the Tramways Union, or its award. This decision reversed that of an Auckland mediator, Mr |X P. Cranston, on August 18 that the work being done by the women should be done by union members.