The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-14 00:00:00

THE STRIKES.

The very highest satisfaction was expressed in all
circles in Newcastle on Saturday at the close of the
engineers' strike. A very good understanding was
come to between the masters and men on that day,
and there is not much cause for anxiety lest any un-
pleasantness should :wise between the old hands and
the foreign workmen. There is every roaStsl to believe
that the foreign workmen will be allowed to work their
time out umnolested. Of course, not a few orders for
marine engines, which should have been made in the
Newcastle shops, have been contracted for by London,
Sunderland, null, Dundee and Southampton lime.,and will be placed on board vessels built or building
on the Tyne. But, notwithstanding this circumstance,
the Newcastle shops have a good number of orders on
hand, and if the masters can succeed in supplying
their factories with sufficient hands, there is plenty of
profitable work for them.
The resolution adopted by the mass meeting of the
men on strike at Newcastle on Friday stipulattsl that
aldle they accepted the principle of the suggested
arrangements they desired that six men should meet
six employers to settle details. There is a fear, how-
ever, that difficulty may arise respecting these details,
lint it is understoisl that the men are willing to refer
all disputed points to arbitration, and it is hoped the
maters will agree to such a proposal.
The strike of the engineers in Newcastle is no
sooner closed than a considerable number of the borough
p dice force threaten to turn out. There have been
several meetinga of the members of the force. The
matters in dispute have been before the Watch Com-
mittee several times, but they have not been able to
settle them. _

The operative dyers connected with one firm at Brad-
ford are still out on strike for an advance of 10 per
cent, in their wages. Their employers refuse to yield
the required advance. The turn-outs have held several
meetings during the past week, and adhere with firm-
ness to their resolution not to return to work till the
advance is c. needed. The cloth weavers at Eccleshill,
in the clothing districts adjoining Bradford, have struck
work for an advance of 20 per cent, in their wages,
which their employers refuse to give. It is thought
the difference would be readily settled by arbitration if
a few disinterested gentlemen would interpose and offer
their services to that end.
. _ _ .

On Saturday from 14,500 to 15,000 operatives were
thrown out of employment in the heavy woollen dis-
trict of Dewsbury, through the manufacturers having
locked up their mills, in order to bring to a speedy
settlement the dispute between themselves and the
winders and liniShers, about 1,000 in number, who have
struck for an advance of wages. The district over
which the lock-out extend includes the towns and
villages of Dewsbury, Mirtield, Batley, Soothill,
and Ravensthorpe, in which there ion is Tula-
thin of nearly 100,000, and the special manufacture
LI that of heavy cloths made of a mixture of WOOI
and shoddy, the latter being a woollen material
obtained from the tearing up or " devilling" of
cloth and carpet rags, old worsted stockings, &c.
The men on strike ask for an advance 14 wages averag-
ing from ten to twenty per cent. ; but the employers,
while conceding that the rate of remuneration generally
was too low, have refused to do more than offer an
advance which for the worst paid will be equal to an
increase of 2s. per week, and for the rest Is, per week.
The men, however, complain that the scale of payment
for overtime—of which there is a great teal n the
Dewsbury district as a rule —has been reduced eight
per cent., but they have offered to submit their case to
arbitration. The manufacturers of woollen cloth, who
have an association, have, through their executive, de-
clines' hi accede to any such proposal, holding that it
would be rnfair, confined, as it would be, to ascertain-
ing what ought tithe ;mid beyond their offer. The strike
hands have however, offered to take less than their
original demand, which was for 245. per week, and on
Saturday afterws al, at a general meeting-, they agreed
to nominate 12 men to meet an equal number of em-
ployers to try and come to tenth,.

On Monday afternoon Sir William Armstrong, Mr.
It. G. PhiUpson, Mr. Joseph Cowen, ima., and Mr.
John Burnett, President of the Nine Maus League,
met at the Town Clerk's ollice, and the arrangement
agreed upon between the associated employers and the
working engineers on Friday was approved and
accepted by the repro, entatives both of the masters
and the men. A full meeting of the delegates was held
in the evening, and the arrangement agreed upon in
the aftericion uuas received with enthusiasm. The
strike is therefore at an end.

- CM Monday rig:,t, "a lim. lift inmonstration of the
trades an-t W‘ehiee net id Londe° was lichl In Tratalear•
square, for the mil pi 11111:10w the I.ll.4Theet a of
Newcastle on the Lis. , • h coon tin of Co 11. strike,
Mel to form a Na' inn! 1.. a fi r fiti th.,,twe if the
Nine hairs Moviiini•id shot tly eft, seven a
large crowd it en-Ging in 11 d inn ll.e
Ann lo.tir lati r a hiri.e lwity of the weintiers of the net.
wainers' Si.iciety entered the willere, ',receded by their
train banner awl a brass bawl, and took up their
position at the base of the Nelson mot tttttt ert ; tlwy
were followed liv a lar4e contingent from south Isinihin,
w,daly enntimninntinie belonging to the
eo,eny., trades, with a large silk banner, on Which
was inscribed the words, " Ten to nine we win."
After these came members of the l'ainters', Plasterers',
I arpenters', Masons', out other trades, each !weevil...l hy
their trade banner. At eight o'clock there could not have
been less than from 15,000 to :20,000 persons present. At a
few minutes after sight Mr. George ('tiger, the chairman of
the meeting, awl the nleillhere of the committee mounted
the platform, and Were reeeiVed With lend cheers. They
were aeconlpallied by Mr. Plethi, a delegate front Newcastle,
who, int being introduced to the meeting, met with au
enthusiastic reception.
The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading a tele-
gram which the committee hail just merit ed from New-
castle, dated Monday evening, six o'elook, awl stating that
the delegates nit the Illa Stern and linen had just separated,
after amicably settling the terms of arrangelaelit, and the
men were to resume work on Thursday morning. lie then
said the meeting hail originally been called for the purpose
of aiding the men of Newcastle in their struggle, lint it hail
happily been turned into one of congratulation at the victory
they hail obtained. The molt of Newcastle hail thine their
work well, mid were worthy of all praise. lie hoped they
would be as moderate in the hour of victory as they had
been In the heat of the battle, lie hoped the struggle at
Newcastle was lint the precursor of a movement thri mahout
the whole country for a reduction of the hours id labour.
(Hear.) 'rhey must. however, recollect that to make such a
unnn.vennetnt successful there must be a thorough organization.
(tb,rir.)

Mr. Wilson, assistant secretary of the Amalgamated
Engineers' Society, then moved the following resolution :
" That this meeting elpresses its satisfaction at
the favourable settlement of the protracted and man-
fully contestot strike at Newcastle for the nine hours,
and records its admiration at the enduring, self deny-
ing, and persistent spirit of the men, who, for the com-
mon good 14 their class, have so long sustained a
contest with moderation and honour that w-ill mark
an event in the industrial history,,! the nation."
Ile said the strike had been misunderstood on many points
both by the public and the Press. It had been called a Trades'
1:111011 strike, but the fact was that fully ninc.tentlis of
he men who struck work were non-soriety men. The
movement was the result of a growing feeling among the
men that their hours of labour wore too long. lie hoped
working men all over the ctuntry would learn a IrSioll from
the Newcastle strike and its results. and not cease their agi-
tation until nine hours was a recognized days' work in every
trade. (Loud cheers).

Mr. Mickley (Plasterers' Society) seconded the resolution.
A reduction in the hours of labour would relieve the surplus
lahour market, and improve the physical, moral, and social
condition of the workmen. (iioan)

Mr. Netts, the delegate from Newcastle, then addressed
the meeting, and was received with long-continued cheering.
lie apologim I for the absence of Mr. Burnett, the President
of the Nine Hours League, who had been engaged with the
masters in arranging the terms of settlement of the strike,
which, as they had heard from the telegram, had been
happily concluded. Ile then detailed the origin and progress
of the strike up to the present time, and sahl it a mild never
have twunied the dimensions it had done if the masters
had been less arrogant and more conciliatory to the
men in the first instance. They, however, might have
learnt a lesson which he hoped they would remember
in the future. (hear). For a long time they had re-
fused to acknowledge or treat with the League, but, Muting
public sympathy and opinion with the men, they hail hiund
it more prudent to alter their policy, and hence the sudden
change and :Irrupt ant, of the terms just agreed upon.
hear. The men of Newcastle had also learnt a lesson ; they
have found out the power of union conducted by prudence
and moderation. (Mar. Be could state that at the next
election Mr. Burnett would lie brought forward as a working
man's candidate, with every prospect of success. (Cheers.)
The resolution Was carried hy aeclamar .

Mr. Shipton, Secretary of the Amalgamated Painters'
Society, moved a resolution acconling the thanks of the
'meeting to the leen of Newcastle and their leaders for their
manly awl nil" conduct during the struggle. nut Le Messrs.
Cowen and Philipson for their swvessful mediation.

Mr. Csnham, engineer, seconded the resolution, whieb was
supported by 'Jr. W. harry. seeretayy of the Amalgamated
society of Carpenters, and Mr. Kennard, mason, and carried
amid loud cheers.

Mr. Pike, engineer, moved a resolution declaring the ad-
visability of at once forming a National League to neonmte
the nine hours system of labour thropghout the United
Kingdom. _

MT. Murray, bootinaker. sceonded the resolution, which
was supported by Mr. Phillip, painter, Mr. Meaas, plasterer,
and others, and carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks was Veil given to the Chairman, and the
proce.lingd concluded with several rounds of cheering for
the success of the Nine Ilour6 Movement.