Coventry Standstill
Socialist Press1976 1976-08-25Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 10 →
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At a mass meeting on allow an extension in one-man buses until a better offer is made on shorter hours.
West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority want to increase one-man operation and have offered a derisory £1.04 per week productivity bonus.
One hundred and fifty new front loading buses will stay off the road following the bus crews decision.
The drive by the WMPTA to get much more work for just a little extra money had been aided by the confusion caused by the busmen's leaders.
For some time bus crews have been demanding a reduction in the dinner break in order to bring the Forking day down to eight hours thirty fire minutes.
NEGOTIATIONS
At the end of June a full stoppaze took place followed by one-day strikes which were dropped mile negotiations took place.
An overtime ban was then intro•aced and this was withdrawn at Thursday's meeting - just as it •zs really beginning to bite. he was disgusted at the way the action had been led and after the meeting a petition was circulated calling for a further meeting to discuss a motion of no confidence in the T&GWU busmen's branch committee.
Clearly a a new new leadership is needed - one which can build on the militancy of the crews in a positive way.
The overtime ban had reduced both rush-hour services and take home pay by one-third - demonstrating the need for a basic wage high enough to get rid of the need for overtime working altogether.
OFFENSIVE
With unemployment running at 14,000 in the city and inflation reducing the value of take-home pay by the week, the next mass meeting must take the offensive against the employers.
Extra workers must be taken on in order to introduce the 8 hour 35 minute day - with no overtime.
A substantial increase protected against inflation by automatic cost of living increases must at the same time be fought for to compensate for the loss in take home pay.
Elected committees of busmen will be needed to draw up plans for new manning levels and work out
----- pull-quotes -----
Thursday 19th August, Coven! try bus crews voted not to