After simmering on the edge of eruption for a month, the conflict between the East Yorkshire bus company and the drivers and conductors, (members of the T&GWU) has finally come to a head, in an official and indefinite strike.
The Company, part of the biggest privately-owned bus combine in the country - British Electric Traction, which is also involved in laundries and in television - has refused to concede a demand that their crews be paid the same rates as Hull's Municipal Busmen on certain routes which they operate in the city boundaries, The main services which the East Yorkshire company provides are in the rural hinterland of Humberside, and the middle-distance routes between coastal towns, York and Hull, with some long-distance coach-work also. However, substantial services are operated within Hull's boundaries, where they complement the municipal buses. Nationally, of course, the municipal wage rates, and those of private provincial companies, are negotiated separately, and there is now a considerable differential which favours the municipal crews, largely owing to the service bonus agreement which they obtained last year. When East Yorkshire crews refused to operate city routes until they also received this bonus, the company suspended them from duty, and precipitated two one day strikes in September. Behind the solidarity of the men lay also an accumulated series of grievances over schedules and conditions of work. Thy returned to work after imposing a ban on overtime and rest-day working. The company further provoked the men by continuing to offer rest-day working, and by succeeding in inducing one crew to work on their rest day. A further temporary stoppage then occurred. This week, the company announced more split-shift working, increased duties on the routes in dispute, and the introduction of one-man operation on the York- Hull route - all these without any negotiation with the union. Although warned by the union thet they would certainly meet with official strike responses, the company has failed to withdraw the changes. Approval for the strike has been given by the National Executive of the T&GWU, and with local union officials going on record with extended statements of militant support for the men's case in the local daily paper, the strike is on. Local union opinion is that this strike is simply a part of what is a national grievance on the part of provincial busmen, and that further trouble could well be pending amongst other companies, particularly where they operate in urban areas alongside municipal crews, The union is determined to obtain the bonus payments for the provincial private crews, and to resist attacks on manning which have not been negotiated. The wider significance of the strike is important for us all. First, the company is clearly in belligerent and provocative mood. How far this is stimulated by the government's encouragement of anti-union attitudes - particularly directed at oppositional unions such as the T&G - is a matter for serious thought. Union backing for the men, coming shortly after the official recognition for the car-delivery men's strike, is further demonstration that the T&G is in earnest over it's opposition to the wage freeze.
Locally, it also demonstrates that the recent emergence of a new and more militant, left-wing leadership in the union, is prepared to back words with action. They will not lack for allies: Hull's trade union and labour movement has had considerable experience this year in moving into active support and solidarity with an important series of strikes:- dockers, fishermen, and seamen, — Humberside Voice, and the Workers' Solidarity movement, the Trades Council, etc., are preparing for fund-raising, and to invite spokesmen from the buses to union, labour party, and open meetings. Already on the first day of the strike, the joint C.S.E.-Hull Labour College meeting "against the wage freeze" has heard a full report on the dispute from the regional trade group secretary goncerned with the strike, and a collection of £4.10.0 was taken at the meeting. We shall report again on this. important dispute. Meanwhile, resolutions of support and contributions to the strike fund, shoudd be sent to The Regional Secretary, T. and G.W.U., Bevin House, George Street, Hull.
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