The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-06 00:00:00

SATURDAY, FCTIIII3FI 6, MBO

MASS MEETING OF IRONWORKERS IT
BRIERLEY HILL.

On Monday a meeting of all classes of ion -
workers was held at the Alma Tavern, Btierl
Hill, to consider the wages question. The e hole
of the district was represented.
The Chairman opened the meeting by asserting
that great dissatisfaction was felt by the iron-
workers en the ground that railway dues, in-
surance, freights, commission, and discount were
all t akeu off the books of the ironmasters before
the calculation was made as to the men's wages.
He and many others were anxious that this should
be prevented, and that efforts should be made to
obtain for the men a better bargain.
Mr. Capper then addressed the meeting. He
said that the system under which the Wages Board
was conducted was of course open to improvement;
but he could not believe that the employers who
showed their books would enter into a conspiracy
to rob the men and to deceive the other employers
and the arbitrator. The ironworkers would be
acting within their scope by asking a reconsidera-
tion of the question The scale now in force was
the same as in 1872, when it gave satisfaction.
The only difference was that now they had but
sixpence in advance on the shillings per pound on
the ton instead of a shilling; but to balance this
they only worked a short turn instead of a long
one. The drop was more than anticipated,
but he believed it was due to the fact that
three of the largest ironmasters whose books
were exhibited had done little or nothing during
the quarter. He referred of course to Messrs.
Barrows, P. Williams, and Bagnall. He trusted
they would stick to arbitration, and believe him
when he said that he never acted without consult-
ing the representatives of the men.
A Speaker asked whether the railway dues, dis-
counts, and commissions were in the scale of 1872;
also, whether one .fifteenth had not been taken off
ths men's wages to make the difference between
the long and the short ton, and why sheet iron was
not included in the products in which the men's
wages were calculated ?
In reply, Mr. Capper said he attended whenever
he was asked to see that justice was done, and if it
had not been it was the men's fault and not his.
The 1872 scheme had in it all the things mentioned,
but they could try to alter it if they liked now.
There was really a slight advantage to the men in
the difference between “d. and a short ton and is
and a long ton.
After some discussion the following resolution
was proposed :—" That this meeting is of (pin on
that the clauses in the sliding scale regulating iron-
workers' wages whieh have deference to railway
dues, freight, and insurance, discount and com-
mission, should be withdrawn, as we consider them
unjust in their operation against the claims of the
ironworkers, whose wages are regulated by the
said scale ; and, further, that we instruct our re-
presentative to ask for the co-operation of the
representatives to the other districts for the purpose
of securing the withdrawal.",
This was carried unanimously, and the meeting
t-rminated.