The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-03 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE REDUCTIONS IN Vir\A.GES
IN THE WROUGHT NAIL TRADE,

IMPORTANT MEETING AT HALESOWEN,

On Saturday evening a representative meeting of
wrought nail makers belonging to the South Staf-
fordshire and East Worcestershire districts was
held at the Cross Guns Inn, Birmingham Street,
Halesowen, when Mr, John Price (Chairman of the
Nailmakers' Association) presided. There was a
good attendance of delegates.
The Chairman said he regretted to state it had been
deemed advisable to call the meting in order to
endeavour to improve the present conduct of nail-
makers throughout the South Staffordshire and
East Worcestershire districts—(hear, hear.) Un-
fortunately during the last twelve mouths a series
of reductions in wages had been enforced, the result
being that the majority of the nailers were leading
a miserable existence. They would doubtless re-
member that the 1879 list of prices was described
in every district as being the "starvation list" Yet
at the present time they were wrrking for general
work at 20 per cent, under the list, for bob nails 30
per cent. under, and in some instances even a
gr, ater percentage.—("lt is true?") At such prices
empleyers and operatives well knew that it was im-
p( esible for men to get a living—(hear, hear). He
had known skilled workmen, after paying expenses
for gleads and carriage, to pick up 6s. 6d. for a
e•k's wages. He thought it ;meld be carceded
by every rig t thinking man and woman that such
r, muneration was totally Inadequate for the arduous
labour performed—(bear, hear). The public would
know they were not complaining without cause
when he told them th..t since 1875 they had been
called upon to submit to reductions in wages ranging
from 55 to 56 per cent. It was now impossible for
them to live at the prices paid. Consequently they
had no alternative but to ask the employers to in-
ert ase the prices—(hear, hear). The wretchedly
lowem pricesdemand;
butdid notthey
im improvepro
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eeir
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Many of the employers, to his own kuowledge
were anxious to pay increased wages, providing
others could be induced to do the same—(hear,
heat).; He was very anxious to avoid a strike,
because
he was convinced no permanent good would
be attained by it; and he would suggest tl‘at
days' notice be given for a return to the 1879 list,
and that du: ing the fortnight a deputation wait
Upon the employers and urge them to give a sub-
stantial advance in wages. Mr C. Baylis said that
in the Broinsgro e districts a series of meetings had
been held, at all ot which the operatives were de•
termined not to continue work at the present prices,
because it was well ten wn they could not live at
the wages now paid. To his own knowledge many
of the men were undergoing great privations, and
poor children wore unable to obtain the necessaries
of life. Ail this was the result of underselling on
the prt of operatives as well as employers. At
Sidetnore and Catshill the operatives were deter-
mined to cease work unless a substantial advance
was conceded, and if the employers forced them to
strike they would not return to work under the
1879 list of prices.
A Bromsgrove delegate said it had been ascertained
iedu
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at hgae ts
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the reduced
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athn
em-
ployers and the public would
come to the conclusion
y Judi
that the operatives were full justified
de-
manding better Vnges—thear, hear).
ed in
The Chairman said he was desirous of avoiding a
disastrous strike, and he was convinced a strike
would be avoided if the employers would pay 10