Busmen's Holiday?
THE decision of the London busmen to reject their union executive's advice, and to turn down the proposal that their case should be sub- mitted to arbitration, was expected. It was the natural consequence of the Government's decision not to accept the Whitley award to the NHS Workers. Despite the different circumstances of that decision, it could only be taken at the risk of undermining the prospects of arbitration in other disputes, and throwing the unions back on to direct negotiation with the employers.
It might have been assumed from the tone of some of Mr. Frank Cousins's earlier speeches that he would welcome this early opportunity for his union to show its negotiating strength. But in fact he must be aware that it only shows its weak- ness. He can make out a reasonable case that the London busmen deserve more; but then, who doesn't? If we all had our deserts, who would now refuse extra icing on his share of the national cake? Relative to some other claims, though, the busmen's case is weak; and it has been still further Weakened by the fact that the provincial busmen Were able to make good their claim to reduce the differential between their wages and London's.
This has put the London Transport Executive in a strong position. It can argue that to give way on this new claim would merely trigger off fresh demands in the provinces—precisely the sort of leapfrogging that the Government is anxious to Prevent. Nor is there any chance that 3 strike would be sympathetically greeted by the public. Transport strikes rarely are; and this one would only irritate.
Mr. Cousins's anxiety to prevent a strike is, therefore, understandable. His union, like most Unions today, is not well off—not, that is, in terms of the volume of strike pay which it would have to expend if there is a stoppage. Union executives are now desperately anxious not to get involved in any dispute which is likely to be protracted, particularly if there is the least risk of defeat. There is no point in throwing away good money on weak causes—particularly on lost causes.
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