The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-27 00:00:00

THE CHAIN TR :WE

Mr. Noah Forrest, president of the Cradh- y Heath
and District Chainmakers' -Association, leis laid
be6ere the operatives a statement with reference to
the recent strike, and the future prospects of the
trade. He points out that five months ago they
were not united, and the waves of the men were
eown as low as 7s per week. At the same time, there
were enormous seocks of chain both in the nraEters'
warehouse and in the workmen's shops. The
gloomy prospects of the trade induced the men to
form a Union, and notice was given for the 4s. list,
winch was the lowest, list ever printed. After a
stru.- gle of t, n weeks duration several hundreds of
lie men returned to wok, and now, at the end of
eights n weeks, about ninetenths had obtained the
advanced list. Instead of working for 78. per week,
net foe the same amount of work. Previous to the
strike may et the operatives regulary worked wail
ight or nine o'clock in the evening; now, however,
he was pteased to say nine-tenths of the shots el, sed
at six o'clock, and they were determined, as far as
possible, to restrict the 1 :hour, in order to keep the
markets from being overstocked. It was grati:ying
to knew that the immense stock of employers had in
6rea measure disappeared, which gave to the
workmen a better chance of future employment.
Although they had no funds at the corn liencement
of the sirike, yet thousands of loaves had been dis-
tribwed amoegst the poor people. During the strike
or r £3oo hid been contributed by those men who
had succeeded in obtaining work at the inerca4ed
rate, and this amount, with the exception of about.
.210., had been distributed amongst those who could
net find employment. As a result of the strike roar-
m ie shad been formed, and nearly all the districts
had bet.oine united, lie:hiding Lye Wage, Oldswin-
ft...l-d, Tipton, end Walsall. All this had beet, accom-
plished u. der ver., disadvantageous circuits earittes
during the five months. With rewtrd to the
future their prospects were fair. The stocks were
now very small, an as in all probability the demand
f. !I. chain would very shortly increase, they were
justified in indulging in tee Lope of semi ing another
and advanced list innuediatly, and a further increase
as the :summer ,ppreaeled. This would bang then
up t , the se. list, at which price they could support
themselves and families in a moderate degree of
to fort. If th:R could be secured, it would then he
debit-11We that the chainmakers should pay a goof
levy until soine thousands of pounds where raised,
so as to make a good provision for all those who
failed to obtain work at the full list price. In this
way he believed prices could he permanently main-
tained, and strikes prevented in the future.
Recently the price of gleads has been increased by
the masters, and it is stat d that this together with
the improving prospects of the trade, have induced
the men to consider the advisability of demanding
a further increas- in wages. It has been deeidt d
to ask for another advance early in the new year
if trade continues goo I.