‘Propaganda’ in notice angers bus drivers

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 8

‘Propaganda’ in notice angers bus drivers

Some Christchurch Transport Board drivers are angry at the use of the board’s weekly notice to employees for what they say is propaganda. The “Weekly Notice” carries a note that employees must read it carefully and act on instructions in it without fail. The latest notice, Issued on February 5, has the normal notices about routes, passes and rosters, as well as a press clipping quoting Cr Alex Clark, of the Christchurch City Council, and a copy of a press release from the board’s chairman, Mr Patrick Neary, replying to Cr Clark’s suggestion that the board should be scrapped. A spokesman for the concerned drivers said that the clipping and press release had nothing

to do with bus services and drivers felt that it was an attempt by the management to divide the union and keep drivers in line. The board’s operations manager, Mr E. T. Dewar, said-that the inclusion of the two items was just a way of keeping employees informed. The notice was the best way to get information to all staff. Relations between the board’s management and some of the drivers have been at a low ebb since the abortive stoppages lasting 15 days in November and December. The stoppages were aimed at winning a $32 a week industry allowance, but failed to achieve any concessions. The Tramway Workers’ Union has warned that the campaign could emerge again this year.