& DEMAND FOR MEAL TIME PAYMENT ° from Platform (July, 1964)
The following letter was published from Conductor Dougal of Sidcup:
Some three months ago, one of our women conductors came off » bus at the proper relief point for her menl-break, and, during the three-minute walk to the garage canteen, she tripped over a rough payment, injuring her leg and hand. Firsteaid in the gnraze was followed by a trip to the loca hospital where she was promptly certified unfit for work, The certificate as duly handed, with a claim under the Industrial Injuries Act, to the London Transport Board, who passed it down the official pipe-line resulting in the applicant receiving a letter rejecting the clnim and explaining that the accident did not occur whilst she was at work and being paid. She was informed that she could appeal to the local tribunal if she was not satisfied.
In due course the appeals court .was held consisting of six, including the National Health Officer, who appeared for the Crowm against the appeal. The result of all this was that the Tribunal unhesitantly and unanimously agreed that the claim should be met on the following grounds:
1. That at all times during her duty she has the responsibility of the safety of the Gibson machine,box, money and lost property, as there are no lockers provided for conductors.
2. she has to write down ticket numbers during her mealbreak.
3, Reading notices in the garage has to be done in staff's time.
4. Washing end toilets are provided only in the garage.
They also expressed surprise that the trade union allows conductors to do this work and carry this responsibility in their meal times,
This report, when submitted to Sidcup 1/339 branch resulted in complete approval for a claim to be lodged through our union for payment for all meal times, irrespective of length, for Conductors only, Even the drivers present agreed that the conductors have a strong officinlly. backed, which, if successful would go some way towards léssening the pay differential between back and frontecsecee COMMENT: an interesting point is raised here, we wonder. if any other section of workers face a similar situation?