The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-29 00:00:00

AMALGAMA LED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY
SERVANTS.

A meeting of the Stourbridge Auxiliary of the
above branch, was held at the Labour-in-Vain
Inn, Oldswinford, on Sunday !evening last, and
there was a fair attendance. Mr. W. Packwood,
of this town, occupied the chair. The proceed-
ings were commenced by the introduction ot
the chairman to the meeting. This having been
done,
Mr. Packwood sa;d ho was greatly obliged to
them for the honour they had done him in
him to take the chair. He was rather
surprised at not seeing more present, especially
as the railway servants in this distriet were so
powerful a body, but it may be accounted for
by the fact that there were some away on dray.
Ho should say a few words to them on union-
is' e' and then Mr. Vincent would address them.
He hoped that nothing distasteful or disgusting
to the ear, would fall from either his or Mr.
Vincent's lips, to offend any one present. He
made these remarks bee muss he hal not been
amongst them before. Tue object of the meet-
was trades unionism and the benefits to be de-
rived therefrom. Ho thoroughly believed in
trades unionism. Ile had heard that railway
servants wanted an alteration in their hours of

working. If they bound themselves Trig:Of:her
they would aeon have their own way, but they
would not unless they were one and all join in
unity. Ho had been connected with trades
nnioniinn for nearly 20 years, and had had
something to do with meetings in his own trade,
and he always found that if they wanted any-
thing from the masters they must all join to-
gether and they would obtain whatever they
v.auted in'filason. He did not believe in strikes,
and now the matter could be settled in a far
inure amicable manner than formerly, and that
was by arbitration. If there was a disagreement
between masters and men, a number of each
would assemble together and talk the matter
over, and then decide what course it would be
best to pursue. With regard to the 9 and 10
hours movinient, he was ashamed to hear that
some of the men still worked 30 or 40 hours
couseeutively, whilst he, hi, self. did not work
more hours than that the whole week. After
'nue other remarks, the Chairman called upon
Mr. Vincent, of Birmingham, to addrass the
meeting.
Mr. Vincent said it gave him great pleasure
to be once more amongst them. Ile had hoped
when be Mee there before that by this time that
Stourbridge would have been in a more pro-
minent position anial.g the branches of the
Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, but
ca it was, he congratulated them on being such
strong body as they were. He related several
instances of accidents en railways through the
servants being overworked, and said the men
wanted first to get a higher wage ; in the second
place they wanted a better system of working,
as regards the time ; in the third place, in oases
where railway earvaata are injured or killed in

accidents, their friends should have the same
advantages as the friends of passengers who
fared similarly. In a long and powerful speech
he urged upon those present the necessity of
Joining together in one body, if they wanted
their rights. If they did not do so. they would
never attain their ends.
Votes of thanks to the Chairman and Mr.
Vincent, closed the proceedings.