The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-13 00:00:00

THE RAILWAY SERVANTS' AGITATION.

On Sunday night a densely crowdedmeeting of rail-
way servants—chiefly of the Great Northern Company
—was held in London at the "Albion," King's-cross,
to advance the ten hours movement, payment of over-
time, diminution of Sunday duty, and weekly pay-
ment of wages. Mr. G. Chapman, the secretary of
the newly formed Amalgamated Society of Railway
Servants, took the chair.
Th.!. Chairman said he had met Mr. Bass, MP., who
was accompanied by many influential gentlemen, by
appointment last Monday, when. for three hours,
questions affecting the interest of railway servants
were gone into. Mr. Bass said he should like to see
railway servants organize themselves and form one
grand society, to secure for themselves the fub, tu,tages
which other working men enjoyed (cheers.) The party
were invited to meet Mr. Bass again on Thursday,
when among the gentlemen present there was but
one feeling viz., that the time had arrived when
something should be done for railway servants,
and that they could do much if they on'y
put their shoulders to the wheel (hear, hear) ; and
these gentlemen had asked why this had not been done,
but were satisfied when told of the hardships existing on
the one hand and the oppression on the other. From
these interviews, he (the chairman) could say that Mr.
Baas would provethetniefrieudof themen. That gentle-
man said he would give 200 guinees towards the pre-
liminat7 expenses of the society (cheers), and 4:500 to-
wards erecting a building in which the:railway servants
could conduct their business. (Cheers). It was
pleasing that, owing to the publicity given to the
matter, the 1;20 given as gratuities for the South-
Eastern men had last week been distributed amongst
them. (Hear, beach
A Great Northern Servant detailed the reply of
the Great Northern Company to the memorial of
the men asking for eleven hours with meal times for
day men, and ten hours for night men—eight hours
to form a day's overtime-2s. a week rise—overtime
to be paid at the rate of six days. The reply of the
directors was to the effect that the wages of goods
guards, shunters, 'garters, and others, should be calcu-
lated at the rate of six days per week. When work was
required beyond the usual fixed hours in goods sheds,
oryards, where thostaff is distinct from the coaching staff,
twas to be paid for at the rate of ten hours per day
for day work, and nine hours for night work ; Sunday
work at roadside or other statioes, where necessary for
safety or for the convenience of passengers, to be per-
formed by rotation; signalmenand others, in changing
from night to day duty, and vice versa, not to work
continuously longer than their appointed hours- The
change from night to day duty, and rice persa,will then
be completed, and the signalman coming on duty at the
end of the second six hours will continue his usual
time. Arrangements will be made to prevent as far as
possible, the necessity for the signalman off duty re-
turning during his twelve hours' rest to carry out
signal lamps, and periodica relief will be given to
telegraph signalmen from Sunday duty by relief men
orotherwiase. Three days' holiday with pay will be al-
lowed annuallyto each appointed man after he has been
a year in the service, with a pass for himself and family to
any part of the Creat Northern system (great laughter).
Then followed a scale giving an increase of Is, a week
to all the servants over three years in the service. The
speaker said this was really no answer to the men at
all. The reduction made only referred to overtime,
but no alteration had been made in the actual hours of
labour, which were still 13 hours for day, and 11 hours
for night men. Wheels). And again, although Is.
advance had been given to the men generally, the
checkers (who check the goods) had Is. a week taken
off their wages, and 2s. a week was taken off the mes-
sengers, who used to start at lOs but were now re-
duced to Bs. (Cries of "Shame.")
A Great Northern Guard.—The directors have not
met us even half way, and, therefore, general dissatis-
faction exists among us. (Prolonged cheers). I for
one am not satisfied. (A Voice Nor nobody else).
We ought not to rest satisfied, but see what action we
should take. (Cheers).
A Porter--1 would say, if we were offered only six-
pence, take it.
A Checker.—But it's only the three years' men that
get the shilling. (Cheers.) Many of noon the Great
.Northern work 171 hours a day. I know men who
have done 23 hours' works out of the 24 for four days
successively (loud cries of "Shame !") What the men
asked for was reduction in the hours of labour, over-
time, and increase of pay, and in reply is. a week was
offered to the men of three years' standing. Let them
accept it DA a small instalment, but let them also write
to Mr. Oakley, the general manager, and ask him to
give a definite and immediate reply to the memorial
sent in by the:men. (Loud cheers). lie begged that
that COUNe be adopted.
Another Servant of the company seconded the
motion, which was carried by acclamation.
The Chairman said the agitation had had the effect
of increasing the number of guards on portions of the
South-Eastern, and thus reducing the labour.
Resolutions in favour of the movement were then
pawed and the meeting closed.