WOMEN CONDUCTORS TO STAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 3, 10 March 1947, Page 7

WOMEN CONDUCTORS TO STAY

ENGLISH LABOUR SHORTAGE - TRANSPORT SERVICE London’s “clippies” have had a last-minutes reprieve. The London Passenger Transport Board has decided to suspend its policy of gradually dismissing women bus conductors. No further recruitment is planned but those who remain—a total of about 3500 women—are to be kept on the staff as “a temporary measure,” it was announced here after a discussion between London transport officials and representatives of the bus and trolley drivers and conductors.

Four influencing factors behind this turnabout on accepted policy are:—

1. Recruitment of men conductors has been disappointing. 2. Wastage also is occurring through men drifting to what they consider more attractive jobs. 3. The men are putting in a claim for shorter hours.

4. In addition, there is a public outcry for improvements in transport services.

For the most part, the women conductors are pleased with the decision. Those who wished to leave when the war emergency was over already have clocked out of the garages for the last time. Those who remain have pressed their claim that they would not mind going to make way for returning ex-soldiers. They joined on that condition. But they did not feel it fair they should be replaced by men new to the job who had to be ‘specially trained.

At first the men were almost unanimous that the women should be accepted for the wartime emergency only. Now they have worked with them and found they can do a man’s work for a man’s pay, many think it only fair that they be allowed to remain on the job.

Women conductors in London after a provisional period of six months, are paid the same rate for the job as men. The Transport and General Workers’ Union, therefore, is not afraid that continued employment of women may reduce the standard of pay for men.

But the trade unions generally are in a difficult position when it comes to deciding their attitude toward the demand by women to stay permanently in what normally is considered a man’s job.

The Trades Union Congress, in its desire to help the Government on the manpower problem, is faced with a critical shortage of women to do what is normally considered women’s work. They are not certain therefore, whether it is the national interest to allow women to remain in transport. Especially since authorities contend that the physical strain and late night duties are not suitable for women.

This is the type of problem which now faces the British cabinet’s manpower committee. The Labour Government feels workers should be free to choose their own job. On the one hand they have no power to direct labour as they had during the war. On the other they have to get women into the labour market, and into the industries where they are most needed.

Whether or not bus conducting is a sphere in which women can work economically, it appears as though London will not have to say goodbye to all its “clippies” this time as it did when the vets returned in 1919.