Bosses of Havana's embattled bus company, the Cooperativa de Omnibus Aliados, have suffered and bled for years over the old Cuban custom of filtración. Under this time-honored racket, unscrupulous conductors on the company's rickety, orange-painted guaguas (pronounced wah-wahs) have filtered up to 40% of each day's fares into their own pockets. Last year, in a desperate effort to replace the conductors with temptation-proof turnstiles, the company offered to retire all surplus conductors at full pay. Their unionthe Sindicato de Empleados de Omnibus Aliadosrefused.
Last week the company struck a shrewd blow at filtración. Under a new plan, the conductors (many...
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