In his presidential address to the National Union of Railwaymen's annual meeting on July 5th, Mr. Frank Donlon, the union's president, warned the Government that the union was looking for "early action on the transport situation" as pledged at the General Election. He claimed that the Government was not proceeding towards the implementation of its promise for a stateowned, fully integrated transport system.
He also gave some figures on the extent of redundancy in the industry: since last year many thousands of members had been sacked (Mr. Donlon is one of the latest), making a total of 100,000 in the past three years and 225,000 since 1949. If the present policies continued, ten of thousands more railwaymen would lose their jobs in the next five years.
Among the other questions dealt with by Mr. Donlon was the failure of British Railways Board to consult the unions over new schemes. Despite pay increases, the introduction of the latest technological equipment under the modernisation plans had adversely affected members! earnings and conditions of work. "This deplorable state of affairs arises because the management are now tending to introduce schemes before negotiations with the union on wages and conditions have been completed," he added.
The right wing scored ty voting victories: attempts to get the union to support unilateralism, and criticise the appointment of Mr. Sidney Greene to the Southern Electricity Board were both beaten.