The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-18 00:00:00

THE STRIKE OF CHAINMAKERS.

A meeting of the small chainmakers now on strike in
the Cradley and Cradley Heath districts for an increase
of wages was held on Monday morning, at the Man-
chester Inn, Four Ways, Cradley Heath. Mr. N.
Forrest presided, and stated that he had waited lion '
tw ) other masters, Messrs. B. Price, Cradley Heath, tied
Jones and Kendrick, ltowley—and both these firms had
promised to pay their workmen according to the '
advanced list. It was decided by resolution that their
men should return to their work at once. The Chair- '
man further stated that no information had been re
ceived concerning the difficulty which arose through
Messrs. Noah Bingley and Sons, Primrose Hill, Nether-
ton, paying their men at a lower rate than other firms,
and they were not in a position to say what steps that
firm intended to take. The Secretary. Mr. Price, re-
ported that lie had been informed that Mr. William
Bannister (employer), New Town, after having promised
I') pay the advance had refused to do so when his work-
people took in their work. He (Mr. Bannister) had told
his employes that he could not give out work only at the
old prices, and that he could only afford to give the
increase for a little odd work. He (the secretary) also
reported that some of the men had taken out work from ,
Mr. Holmes, Halesowen, at the old price list.-1 deputa-
tion was appointed to wait up en Mr. Bannister and also
the men who taken out wotk at reauled rates from M:.
H lmes.—The men, as usual, passed resolutions pledging
themselves to remain out on strike uetel the advanced
114 was obtained from all the employe....
A well.attendA meeting of the men on strike in the
Cradley and Cradley Heath dis rict was held on l'uesday
last, at the Mat,cileer Inn, Four scars. Cradley ileatti.
—Mr. Noah Forrest occupied the caair, and remarked
tliet he had seen Mr. Bannister, who was reptirted to
have refused to pay the advanced prices after having
promised to do so. He (Mr, Bannister) had satisfactorit
explained the matter, and stated that he had not offered
any of his men less than the agreed price, according to
to the advanced list. He (the Chairman) supposed that
the men naLunderstood Mr. Bannister, as the latter ad
mitted having told the men that he did not intend to
increase his stock at the higher rates. The committee
had been making inquiries„ and found that there were
still over 1,030 c'eainmakers out on strike. He (the
Chairman reported that he had received a letter from
Messrs. Noah Hingley and Sons, of Primrose Hiil
Netherton, with referense to the dispute as to the prices
to b 3 paid to their men according to the increased list.
The note stated that they (Messrs. Hingley) understood
that their men were beiag incited to demand from theni
both the extra list and the standard extras thereon for
best chains. To that they firmly declined to agi ea
If the usual extra for "best" was not sufficient, the
proper way was to amend the standard lists; but of
course that was a matter on which the employers
generally would have to be consulted.—The Chairman
observed that while it was true that 'Messrs. Hingley had
been paying the prices mentioned in their note, yet it
was equally true that other masters had been paying
the same prices prior to the strike. He asserted that
Messrs. Hingley were not paying as much as other
masters, beckuse they only paid the 4a list while the
others paid da fid. He felt bound to say that Messrs.
Hingley contend. d that the;r extra chain was similar to
the best chain of other masters. He could not see any
p:obablity of the dispute being settled without a
struggle. When he waited upon Messrs. Hingley ijo
defiuite promise was given as to prices, but they gave
him to understand that the matter would be considered,
and that . they (Messrs. Hingley) would do *hat they
could. Shortly a report was brought to the meeting
that Messrs. Hingley had sent for their men and
promised to give them the advance; in a few days, how-
ever, it turned out that they were paying their men at
lower rates than other masters.—The Chairman re-
marked that the best course to adopt with reference to
the dispute would be to adhere to the resolations
passed at former meetings.—After considerable discus-
sion the sugg.,stion of the Chairman was adopted.—A
Workman reported that Messrs. Walker and Sons, Prim-
rose Hill, Netherton, had granted the increase.
Their men were directed to return to work without
delay. The men, as usual pledged themselves to remain
out on strike until all the masters granted the full
advance.