The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-30 00:00:00

THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE

INTENTION OF THE EMPLOYERS, Sac.
Yesterday the executive council of the Amalga-
mated Society of Engineers, &c., held a special sit-
ting to consider the steps necessary to be taken in
consequence of a document developing the intentions
of the employers with respect to the strike having
come into their possession, and which was read by
Mr. Allan, their secretary, as follows :
[Private and confidential. For members only.]
" Centrel Association of Employers of Operative
Engineers, &c.,
" Offices, 30, Bucklenbury, London, Jan. 24, 1852.
" Dear Sir,—l beg leave to subjoin an extract from
the minutes of the conference held here this day o❑
the subject of the corstitution rid rules of this asso-
ciatior.

" It is frit by the conference that the time has now
arrived when the members of the association should
fica,ly determine upon their future course of action, and
at the same time that its memures should be perfectly
effective for securing the defensive objects for which they
are associated.

" After two days' lengthened discussion, and the ad-
vantage of much information to which they have access,
the conference have come to the unanimous resolution
to recommend the plan of operations developed in the
subjoined minute of their proceedings for the adoption
of their members.
" I am therefore directed to intimate to you that you
are respectfully solicited, without delay, to enclose in
the envelope herewith sent, your approval of, or dissent
from, the recommendations of the conference, that a
meeting of this committee will be held on Thursday next,
to receive and consider the collective returns from the
members, and that at that meeting the whole mode
terms, and the time of re-opening the various establish-
ments will be finally determined, or suggestions for these
objects prepared for the consideration of an aggregate
meeting of the whole mein'bers of this association.
" I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully,
(By order of the conference). " SIDNEY SMITH, See."
[ln strict confidence. For members only.]
" At a meeting of the executive committee of the
Central Association of Em ploy era of Operative:Engineers,
to confer with a deputation from the Lancashire com-
mittee, held on the 20th of January, 1852,
"The conference proceeded to take into consideration
the steps to be recommended for adoption by the mem-
bers of the association in consequence of the pereeverauce
of the Amalgamated Society and other trades' unions ill
adhering to rules and practices equally inimical to the
free action and just rights of the artizan and labouring
classes, and to the exercise by employers of the fair
control which every master is entitled to maintain over
his own establishment.
"The conference further, in consideration that the (1.5;
mends of the members and executive council .
unions
.tah,
Amalgamated Society and of other trades' untihoe
corn
mittee been withdrawn within the time limited byac
.ce
mittee ; and that the various unjustifiabdle pr
by actices s
members body-
these combinations had not been disavoweo,
of the artisans latelY in the employment of the
indispensably
necessary the association; determined that it
idaDOD, personal
necessary for the protection of the operative and labour-
ing classes from the annoyances, t
violence, and exclusion from employment to which they
had been habitually subjected by the influence, organi-
zation, and ascendancy in the various shops of members
of these unions, and ~for the relief of employers from
the interference and dictation thereby inflicted on them,
to advise the members of the association universally
adopt the following measures of self-defence
and to
self-
vindication:—
" 1. That no member of this association shall
admit into, or after ho shall have becomeengage,
. cognizant of
the same, continue in his service or employment in any
capacity whatever, any member of any trades' • union ur
trades' society which takes
cognizance
of, professes to
control, or practices interference with the regulations of
any establishment, the hours or terms of labour, the
contracts or agreements of employers or employed, or
the qualification or terms of
of service.
2. That no deputation
workmen, of trades' unions,
committees, or other bodies, with reference to any objects
referred to in Article 1, be received by any member of
this association on a
person forming partnyaccount whatever, but that any
shall - of, instigating, or causing such de-
putation,
to
open beto dismissed forthwith; it being still per-
fectlyahniys workmanl individually to apply on
such subject to who is recommended
to be at all times open andi accessiblenye; to any personal re-
presentation of his individual operatives.
"3. t a employers be especially solicited as much as
possible to avoid the? delegation of the engagement or
contract of their workmen to others, and to take a more
personal superintendence of control or engagements with
their hands, and in the most especial manner that they
impress upon every pers4engaged by them their anxiety,
that in case of any mietestation, annoyance, or obstruc-
tion, in pursuing their avocations or procuring employ-
ment, they should at once apply and complain to the
principals of the establishment, who should sift such
complaint to the bottom, and to dismiss all persons who
had been proved to have offered or abetted such molesta-
tion or obstruction.
" 4. That no member of till,' association shall engage,
or continue in his employment, any person whatsoever,
until he has read, in preseeee of oue witness at least, to
such person, the rules of hie establishment; and also the
the following
" Declaration by the undersigned, on engaging in the
employment of (here insert name, address, and trade of
employer). I, A B (here insert Christian and surname
of persons declaring), do hereby honestly, and in its
simplest sense and plainest meaning, declare that I am
neither now, nor will, while in your employment, be-
come a member or contributor, or otherwise belong to or
support any trades' union rules or society which, di-
rectly or indirectly, by its rules, or its meetings cr
transactions of its business, or by means of its officers or
funds, take cognizance of, professes to control, or inter-
feres with, the arrangements or regulations of this or any
other manufacturing or trading establishment, the hotera
or terms of labour, the contracts or agreements of em-