The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-18 00:00:00

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

"On Saturday it was stated that the directors of the
Great Northern Railway Company contemplated
further reductions in the pay of their servants—
namely, that the under-guards were to be lcwered 2.
a week and the porters Is. a week, in addition to
the reductions given notice of three weeks since, and
that it was intended to increase the pay of the
inspectors. It was stated, in addition, that the men
concerned were very much disaffected and that a
was threatened. The head officials of the
company at King's-cross on Saturday contradicted
such a statement. What they say is this that a
reduction in the weekly pay of the guards and
brakesmen took effect on the 29th ult., and, that
the bonuses paid to the signalmen half-yearly
for good conduct are to be slightly reduced. No fur-
ther reductions are contemplated, nor have any of
the men made any remonstrance against the re-
ductions, which have the effect of bringing their
wages down to what they were before they were
increased three years ago in consequence of the
great pressure of traffic. The reductions which took
effect on the 29th of December last affect only 213
guards and 127 brakesmen. Of both classes, only 175
men have been reduced 2s. a week, and the remainder
only is. The good-conduct bonuses last paid to
London signalmen were first class, £5; second
class, £5; third class, £2 10s. It is now proposed
to reduce only the second class signalmen by £l.
In the country, the bonuses paid to the signalmen
were—first class, £5; second class, £3 10s. ; third class,
£2 105. These bonuses in future will be £4, £3, and
£2. In reducing the weekly wages of the guards, what
the company have simply done is to abolish the increase
of Ivages paid in the fourth year of service. For the
future, none .of the second-class guards can reach a
higher maximum of pay than 28s. a week, but it
is generally found that by the time, a guard
has served three years on a road he is pro-
moted to a higher and better paid office. The Great
Northern officials further state that at no time have
they had more men in their employ, and that on Friday
last they were unable to find vacancies for a number
of signalmen, guards, and others who applied for work
at Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, and other stations on the
Yorkshire portion of their liue."—Monday's Times.

strike

A meeting of the goods guards, shunters, checkers,
and other servants of the Great Northern Railway, in
London, was held on Sunday night, to consider what
steps should be taken in consequence of the circular
issued by the directors notifying a reduction of wages.
A memorial to the directors was adopted, and it was
unanimously resolved that a deputation of the men
should be forme . to wait upon the board of directors
for the purpose of discussing the subject.

The Times of Tuesday says :—" Last evening an ad-
journed meeting of the passenger guards, foremen,
shunters, and porters in the employ of the Great Northern
Railway was held at the Railway Tavern, York-road,
King's-cross, to adopt a memorial asking the directors to
withdraw the circular of the 13th of December last,
notifying a reduction in their wages of is. and 2s. a
week. At the commencement of the proceedings it was
stated that Mr. Oakley, the general mananer, had inti-
mated that he was willing to receive on Tuesday, a deputa-
tion representing the servants of the goods department who
met at the Belmont Inn on the previnus evening, and also a de-
putation from the present meeting as representing the men
employed in the passenger department. During the after-
noon, however, an arrangement was come to under which
there is to be so reduction in the pay of the foremen and
shouters of the passenger department, but nevertheless
representatives of all classes of employes attended and
took part in the meeting. One of the foremen pre-
sided. He explained that since the meeting held the
previous evening the guards and porters had joined with the
men who were desirous of presenting a memorial against the
recent reductions in wages, and he was glad to say that
that afternoon Mr. Vizer, on behalf of the company, had met
the claims of the foremen and shouters. He read a memorial
to the Board of Directors, which set forth that the men
much to their surprise, on Friday last were redaced in wages
without previous notice. Other men were not reduced, but
were in receipt of their wages as under the old scale. The
memorialists submitted that, as the traffic returns for the
seven weeks ending the sth of January showed an increase of
£17,144 as compared with the corresponding period of last
year, the company had not suffered from depression of
trade. If, however, it could be shown the traffic was
falling off and that there was a reduction in the receipts,
the men were willing to bear their share of a reduction
In wages, provided every man in the service suffered a
reduction in proportion to his wages. Seeing that the
reduction would only save the company £5,000 a
year, the memorialists thought that a prosperous company
like the Great Northern should not hesitate to remove the
cause of the discontent and dissatisfaction now prevailing.
The memorial was unanimously adopted. It was then agreed
to appoint a deputation to wait upon the general manager
this morning at King's-cross. A guard said there was good
reason to believe that Lord Colville and Mr J. T. Astell, one
of the directors, were opposed to the reductions; and that
being so, he moved, and it was carried, that the following
, memorial, setting forth the views of the men, should be for-
warded to them:—