The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-06-22 00:00:00

THE BUILDING TRADES STRIKE.

On Monday evening a crowded meeting of the
London operative masons, who have memorialized
the master builders for the same terms as the carpen-
ters and joiners-51 hours per week, at 9d. per hour
—was held m Wilcocke's Assembly-rooms, Westmin-
aterroaci, Mr. Ketter ingharn in the chair, for the pur-
pose uf receiving a report from a deputation of the
Masons' Committee, who in the afternoon met the
Master Builders' Committee at the Freemasons'
Tavern.
Mr. Weig,hill, the secretary, stated that last week
the Masons' Committee, upon hearing that the Masters' :
Committee hod appointed to meet a deputation from
the carpenters, instructed him to write to the masters'
secretary, to the effect that as the masons were moving
for the same objtct as the carpenters, they considered
a deputation from their body should also be present, or
otherwise they should not feel bound by any decision
that might be arrived at. To this request they re-
ceived no reply previous to the carpenters' deputation
being received, but on Saturday afternoon a notice was
sent to them by Mr. Bird, the masters' secretary, that
they would be prepared to meet a deputation from the
masons on Monday. The deputation had accordingly
waited upon the masters that day.
Mr. Broadhurst. a member of the deputation, then
reported the details connected with the interview.
Himself and his colleogues, Messrs. Nesbitt, Kin-
naird. Bowman, and the secretary proceeded at two
o'clock that afternoon to the Freemasons' Tavern,

whsre they met the same gentlemen who had received
the deputation from the carpenters, Messrs. Barmen,
Lucas, Trohope, Dines, and the secretary, Mr. Bird.
After some general remarks the deputation were asked
whether they were prepared to submit the question
of the nine hours and 9d. per hour to arbitration. The
deputation objected to enter into any discussion
upon the question of arbitration unless the threat of
a lock-out, at least so far as the masons sere
concerned, wan withdrawn. The chairman said this
distinction could not be made. The deputation re-
minded the committee that the memorial of the men
had been before the masters for some months without
any reply being given, and now airy were to be forced
into a hurried arbitration under threat of a lock-out.
The only reply made by the chairman was the handing
to the deputation of the resolution signed on Friday
by the carpenters' deputation. Mr. Lucas said he sup-
posed the masons had the same notice of the lockout
as the carpenters. The deputation informed the
masters that they considered a conference such as they
were then holding was quite as capable of discuss-
ing and settling the question as any strangers who
might be called in, unacquainted with the trade. They
considered it was futile to attempt to patch up the
queiition. The men were resolved upon having the nine
hours, and the question would ciime up again next
year. These annual agitations were injurious alike to
both masters and men. After a long discussion the
deputation laid the following proposal before the
masters' committee, which, if accepted by them, they
would lay before the men for approval, but, if the
committee refused, it was not to be afterwards
used by the masters to the prejudice of the memorial.
This proposal was that fifty-three hours should con-
stitute a week's work, at W. per hour until the
lot of March, 1873, after which date the wages should
be 9.1. per hour. After some hesitation this proposal
was rejected by the Masters' Committee, who again
mid the original terms of the memorial, 51 hours at
9d. per hour, must be submitted to arbitration. The
deputation said they hail no power to agree to arbitra-
tion ; all that they could promise was to take the
opinion of the men upon the question that evening.
The conference then ended, having lasted more than
two hours.
_ . . . .

The above report having been received unanimously,
a. long discussim ensued, and it could not be clearly
ascertained, as there was no strike at present among
the masons, whether, if they consented to arbitration,
the lock-out would be enforced against them, suppos-
ing the carpenters on strike refused to resume work
pending the arbitration, in accordance with the master's
resolution. Ultimately,
Mr. Salter moved the following resolution :

That we, the masons of London, do not admit of arbitra-
tion on the question of the nine hours and the 91 per hour,
but that we adhere strictly to the terms of our memorial—
namely, 51 hours per week at 94. per hour.

He said they had been agitating the ninedmur question
f I' the last 15 years, and they had never before been
in so good a position to obtain it. (Cheers.) They
most not throw away the opportunity.
Mr. Shrew seconded the resolution.
Mr. Nesbitt moved as an amendment,
"That the whole question be left in the hands of the com-
mittee." . . .

.....
Ile reminded the meeting that the adoption of the
resolution would bring about the lock-out on Wednes-
day. (Criell of We're" not frightened at it.")
Mr. Stockton seconded the amendment.

Parker moved as a rider :

"That we accept 51 hours per week at SR per hour unti
the lot of March, 1573, when there ahall be's rine to 9d. pr
hour."

Mr. Worn= seconded the rider.

Another long discu‘sion ensued, after which the vote
was taken, when both rider and amendment were lost,
but few hands being held up for either. The original
resolution refusing arbitration was then carried by a
very large majority followed by loud cheering.
The proceedings then terminated.

On Tuesday morning, at nine o'clock, the delegates
of the carpenters and joiners, to the number of over
225, re-assembled at the " Brown Bear," Bloomsbury,
for the purpose of reporting the result of the voting of
the men they represented upon the proposal submitted
to them by the committee of master,. as their ultimatum
prior to a lock-out. 'Mr. Sadler, of the General Union
of Carpenters, occupied the chair.
The Clahman, in opening the proceedings, said that
the proposals of the masters had been divided into
three points, and a separate vote would be received on
each of the three points. It must be clearly understood
that if the first proposal, for the men on strike at once
resuming wrok, was rejected, the masters, or a certain
portion of them, were pl. dged to al ck-out. (Hear, ) He
hoped the proceedings would be conducted in an orderly
and becoming manner, befitting the gravity of the
cocalsion. (Hear.) He then read the three proposals
to be voted upon, as follows
"1. For an.i.a2ainst the men now on strike from the firms
of Mr. Brass and Messrs Jackson and Shaw resumin4 work
at once upon the old terms, pending any srbitratiun that may
take place 2. For and against submitting the question of
the nine hours and fa per hour to arbitration 3. For and
against holding a conference of an e.puil numner of masters
and workmen to c.doider if any code of working tales can
be arranged for the better regulation of the trade."
While the voting was in progress a letter was re-
ceived from Mr. bones, the chairman of the Masters'
Committee, sitting at 'the Freemasons' Tavern, stat-
ing that the committee were anxiously awaiting
, the result of the voting. The total number of
, men voting was about 4,000, bet as the revults
only were supplied to the report :A the exact num-
bers voting for and against each proposal cannot be
given but it was ascertained that only about 350
voted for the first proposal, for the men on strike re-
suming work; that the votes in favour of the second
proposal for submitting the nine hours and the M. to
arbitration was under 1,250 ; while the voting for the
thiol proposal, of holding a conference of masters and
workmen on a code of working rules, was almost unani-
mous in its favour. . . . .

Upon the reporters being r,admitted to the room,
they having been requested to retire while the seam-
tanks were casting up the numbers,
The Chairman said he declared the first proposal to
be rejected by an overwhelming majority; the secand
proposal for arbitration had been rejected by a large
majority, while the third proposal had been nearly
unanimously adopted.
This announcement was received by the delegates
with loud cheering, followed by " Three cheers for the
nine hours and 9.1. per hour."
A resolution was then moved that the result of the
voting be taken to the Masters' Committee by a depu-
tation of four delegates, but this was very strongly
opposed by the great majority, and it was ultimately
resolved that the secretary should enclose the result to
the committee of masters in a letter sent by a special
messenger, which was accordingly done, and the meet-
ing was then adjourned.
It was after four o'clock before Mr. Bird. the secre-
tary of the masters, was enabled to lay the decision of
the men before his committee, who at once took it into
, consideration. After a short discussion, the following
circular was drawn up, and ordered to be sent by the
night's post to every master builder in the metropolitan
district:— .

" Freemasons' Tavern, June 18,

"Sir—The carpenters and.iiiin;is-and mason; having re-
fused to refer the queitions now in dispute between them-
selves and the master builders to arbitration, or to withdraw
tlie strike at Sir Brass's and at Messrs. Jackson and Shaw's,
you are earnestly requested to carry out the resolutions
passed at the meeting of metropolitan builders on the 7th
of June by Chlsille all shone and works belonging to
you within the district over which the district surveyor has
jurisdiction, from to-morrow, the 19th inst., until such lime
as Mr. Brass and Messrs. Jackson and Shaw shall inform the
committee of the Master Builders' Association that they
have been able to resume their works —I ant, Sir, yours, she,,
STANLEY BIRD, Secretary, pro tent."
A copy of the above circular was laid before the
Strike Committee at the "Brown Bear 'S on Tuesday
evening, and was received with the ',mark that they
have good reason to believe the lock-out would be
very partial. The men, generally, speak hopefully of
success, and say they could never be in a better posi-
tion to obtain the nine hours than at the present time.