The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-24 00:00:00

CRADLEY kLEATII.

CHAINMAKERS' STIMILE.—OR Monday morning last a
well-attended meeting of the chainmakers in the Cradley
Heath and Old Hill aistricts was held at the Manchester
Inn, Four Ways, Cradley Heath, to consider the steps
to be taken with regard to the notices served by the men
upon their employers for an increase of wages, which
uotice expired on Saturday last. Mr. Noah Forrest was
voted to the chair, and in the course of a long address
explained the reasons why the men were asking for an
advance at the present time. He seed not tell them
that they needed the advance. because they all knew by
painful experience how insufficient the prices ptid at
present were, (Hear, hear.) Two or three months ago
they asked for an advanced list, which to a certain
extent was obtained, and about two-thirds of the men
commenced work at the higher and increased rates, but
there were some who could net obtain the list for which
they struck at that time, and as a consequence those
who had obtained the concession from their employers
were unable to retain it, because a portion of Ca.
masters retailed to Veld the demands of their workmen.
they failed in the last stzike for two or three reasons.
One was because they asked for a list higher for best
chain than they asked for comma*, and one of the
masters relused to comply with their demands On that
account. The men employed by that firm took out the
chain at the old prices, which resulted in bringing down
the whole of the men, for when the 'other masters found
out that one firm was Mil buying best chain at the 4.
list, they also refused to pay more tor best chain. But
that firm was not satisfied with t)ringing them down to
the old 4a list, but had been paling according to a list
even below that. The iflasterf who objected to their
demands during the recert s'aike suggested that the
lists should be revised, so tl'ait the best and common
chain should be paid for 'ay the same list, and they
intimated that they would 'pay by such revised list, and
also pay more for the best chain than they were at pre-
sent paying. Seeing that they had failed to improve
the prices by a general Lrihe, it was suggested that the
trade should be divided into three branches, as in former
years, and that one branch should be put on strike at a
time, so that there would is e at least one ot more mem-
bers of each family at work • whilst the others were out
ou strike. In that way y ears ago they not only ire*
proved the prices, but put dos via the truck system (which
was then very prevalent in the trade) in about three
months. (Hear, hear.) A poirtion of the domed chain.
makers would not need to strike as they were already
being paid prices equal to the list they claimed for the
rest. They seized upon thsi present time as the best
opportunity, as there was avid ently a stir in the trade.
A great quantity of short-little chain was being made,
and had been made during the last two years. If there
had been the usual quantity of American work for the
-mployment of women and children he believed there
Ould have been no scarcity of work, as the shipping
ie had been very good. But the American work
trek.
'g failed, the work of the women and children was
into other branches, which had the erect of
bringink '
hthaivvitivt.
the pric.4s down generally. There had been a
nin the demand for e shipping
trade deuri,b.ige ebill'eMt the few weeks. He believed if they
were firm tixey et, re 5 sure to get the advance as they
had asked kar ,t ....Other speakers having addressed
tee meeting, it Isse,6 4 cided by a resolution that unless
,3ued to the dollied chainmakers the
:err:vise:Am
a. equal to about 6 or 7i per cent.,
athievanta
they would be put t, on strike until their demands were
obtained.