N


ADVERTISER AND TIMES. FRIDAY. AUGrTJST 12. 1921.


clear of tho jagged rocks. 0 shot him on the railway


■Uut though ho had a dear fall and his escape seems inei-


lu g fellow was walking through ■ l^rtsmouth when he fell down lh y * au lic lift, a distance of ?0


|e d on his feet on an iron floor few bruises, was able to walk


I s from the States of a man who 1 leave a moving train. The train lug tho station nnd proceeding ■bridge which spans a river 100 iThe man miscalculated his mo- I-.15 hurled over t lu parapet into I bed up by a passing boat he le eiccpt for a wetting, and a I homo about his usual hour.—


^ i ; . . DISPUTE on Striko. PROPOSED WAGES CUT. MEN LEAVE WORK AT SHORT NOTICE. SHOPS OPENED WITH SKELETON STAFFS.


t "cok whilst co-operators in soino East , CONFIDENCE IN COhlMlTTEE. town.s wore


put "Ii.,nibcrs of tlio Clitheroe Society strike


ccniiai lor on


of


vonia oe.iso 005 sottlld


BELGIUM.”


FLETCHER’S POEM TO in INTERNATIONAL ACTION OF VERSE.


I lilt:* (JroAt War. When t^io it will 1)0 found to contain


. im l{«.-foronco Library is a


coUtcUon of pootry


F'l.-i at Hallondella, Australia '.n our columns soon after*


Lnition of his co-operation. To Belgium.


taut Wo thon^lit to ho


liri‘1 yet wo hoiior Ihoo— un^si nation.s. Hut a fow 'iif;nity ho true.


Inn n.R. Ala.s! wo weep, 111 lo t liKJe the pain ;-‘.-o arnoin^'t the elam. from their love<l ones torn,


|io:.*^t, Mauncli «ml bravo, I) ^iillantly. Tlio grave - r nor will keep


|u i—so sad, forlorn— ivt.s aii<l children dear.


1 h a clia.stiy yoar I. h'-awri! grant u.s peace,


|:.s licllifili .struggle ceasol outrage, groid for power for aye. 'I'ho liour ^.rhouIiHJi (IcfKi.’a .shall end.


itoii o'or shall heud; with her dead-slrown fields [ for honor y-olds


I tn ry might. " i'i-st and ’tis right, I liati^o lield.s aro sown,


lee all his debt in full, |crj* fiU-rm a lull


And then ujxth thy throno


|o n g - t us all. come to thin© own. IX FLl-nOHER.


M


-. rf.M t \v-,rl<! til.’ ehh*f inoenlivo if i:n]-mv. mrnt '»f a man’s o\^n tiii Mi-irr. ilijkt nf lii.'i family, nnd


I',.- wii}jilr;;un, iho accumu- -Mif .'f f-nvioL-’s, which iH tlio very • n;. rpri.- . \' "rk nn<l employment, hv .-Ur-C.“—W. W. Paink.


J' luarvofit Will l>o mown. [then will bo rcfltorcd Militnr}' Lord


tonrai,r,l u.is to 0bs,,_ later mmc.aseu .o to TI Tile Union hold out for 76s.


l i


....... b I'bo reduction proposed was to , principle of collective barganung was a 32. r„!.: hitcr advauciKl to 3-is. The Union I rate of wage-s which rose and fell aute.nal;’- ^ : (i^iro tile wage to ho 38s.


iTininr workers of 18 voans wore paid 40s. isauon lor biuau m 0*!ior v.ork«*rs’ wages were to bo altered pro r.it.T.


SlEX .UIP.EK 'TO REMAIN AT WORK X„tic.- "ii.s givon bv-tlio .Smiill Societies’


i-mn iiiei nnd agreml to defer tlio reduction IV tiir. i week.1. -No .-Mltlenient was rciicliwl in iji.1t iiiriod and tho Sneioties tlicn made


Hraii mill Wiigas Do.urff Hint tiio reduction louU t ike lilnco on Uio iiret jiny dny niter Julv -Jiiil liKt. On tlint dnte tlio Uoiu-d


mid joining in the formation of an organ- isation for sm;dl societies. The fundamental


the ^orth*^ cslein


Hour ^


6 ------


But if any body and everybody could start a small board of Uiat description, then collccUvotrade


bargaining became a farce,, because, _ ^ unionists, they could not admit tho principal of biirgaining indiscriminately with everybody. Tho employees’ union refused to treat apart from tho Sectional Board which was to arhitrale on- w’ages. The assumneo liad been given tliat Uio Small Societies’ organisation was not formed to bring wages down. If that was so,


what was it formed for? There was no ovidencc but they knew that


-----


rntes oi>erativo. 'Tlio roducecl wages • ^-ages bad been brought down, and mcmbor.s te-e paid a t CliUieroo but a number of tlic- ; mnluv. i s objecting, a meeting of tho staff ; r ,‘ j 0 (1 oil Fi-iilav, July 29Ui. Tliat moot- I icca-lied Uio jran'agemebt Committee to re- (citi- a deputation and tlie Committoo com- liliiiig a joint conferonco of committee and D c.'i nt:itivi*s of the staff f.!loaii;i; (-veniiig.


supjxirt tlio .-isserlion, -- ,


ag,-u„s), tho Small SodeUcs lUours and tliat Uic


tiiko Uiis into coiisuleralion that Uie Co-operative movoiiiont of the country


le-i.h i!iil the einployeo.s .signwl a provisional '(•ll■l■I’ll lit to continue to work a t Uio ro- lii.M.’, vaii-s iK'iii]ing ii hoUlemciil lictwocn tlie 5m.ili Sociotii'K Hours and Wages Uoard and \I. n'.s I'nioii. wliidi setUement tho . igroed to observo from July Sutli.


The s.tnation wa.s fully comsidorcd with the ‘t!.c cr.iil until lad Saluidny. THE .STRIKE NOTICE. On Smirdny morning the Cominilteo re


c.iv.il n I- tt. r (dnteil August -Itli) Uom the kal i.iiTiih of the Union, caii.clliiig tho pruvi-ionii ngHvniviit on Uio ground (wo


quit- 111.- letter) that


111 Ti,.. n.'i-eiiii iit was Hitorcd into owing " i -----1 — .......ite„


M a misiindon-tamling of Uio p-isiti (-1 oUior


,.f inoiiibers of tlio br.andi.


IM tii.l tliat it iilaees n.s in the |k).siUoii III lilai k-lcg.s wliicli was not iiiiilc-r.-liKKi


III l.i- lii.i caso when i-nlered into.


Ti.o i. iter piMceoded: ” Wo now, Uierefore. ir,;n m Un- Soiie-.y Uiat we an- prepared to


- ’ Ml, s .iitrdav night, (illi -Vugitst, lil-lh ',..t:ng of Uio C-omiiiittco was immedi-


”‘•1 Lr


A


”PP' Ln-i


. • II. d and i t was dochh-d to advertise „ .TV a.s-islanUi. 'The roipiisite iioiic.^ ,.,1


tin- -cresn a t tiio pielnro hall .si,op windows. Jlilk was di.stri-


I'.M from tho shops on Sunday morn iiig by 11, ” slTiff'.nnd on .Monday most of


„ were opened wiUi . 11.0 purpi.'KO. Since, nil the shops


l , itfitl-i


:.s '0-. V.r


r ; ! . exi'cctc-d. f assistants liavo iieen engaged by , ,


iMinttou, who made no 1


to ’.V ,1.;. 5 - ool


I-rf-tii ... I..:-


rt-pri; t!.'


]tr't.


d M)ii' Ut’l


p:.;- f-:p' pfunt.i


Ti


;oing p o r t -


n of b e


n at with more


:be p.-irts. Cork.)


iii. (i


w'ur-. dm '.V. r.' triu!.’ ri'Hi-: .■ml I Ill


Momlay oveiiing at the Congii„.i \ l r . NV. Rarkei- .Tul


,,VI-1 a criiwil.-(l erowileil atti ndai lire.


MEM REUS’ MEETING. . of meinhei.: of Uic Society was


(pie.sidoii1) I’n-sy


iTii.v-s an,, not admitted :inil wo can, therefore, onl> outline


u- u . of many inoinhers nere fully _cx^ up'ii to discussion. o\-


M.me ea.se.s, the- action of .tUa s 'imlmineil. cot.oi, opernuvixs


they had s.ifferid wag.i rc-


ii-ty'.s eiiiphiyeos Hhonld lie/oxi.sco The wa'ies paid in tl'o


i„ a


with the wages paid 1. pm- ih r.xrc’ptiou was alJ-o q„„(inv morning,


too hiffit ® - ! ,-^ \"C iw i 'te x.i-puuii


1- 111 refrain from purclmsiiig at tile F.VFER.'


I lF t h ^ t r i i t e r u t e P - i i a d .


A RCRAF OF ,,j„yeos wore - v o ^ y


I■|■,•l; '•e. Ml,. ,1


i.a th.- (Vumnittis-


li- l•ml,lllyl'CiS xvero xvilling iiM rnte.s


-rl ,l„. n .’ii.isl rates tl„, htrikers. consi xvhi vork


rotiirii I" work sctUcineiil, the


tl.o S-if’iciv was losing more b>_ .1 iiu’M nut il„m wonl(n)0 'iiiiK-s Wi re


Hint ni: tlie employee hat for llm


rehlr^nn tho^hMorm^^^^ J S S Z i S


accepting


il-pM’i. sh ,uld lie emlesl ®."“ „ .,\a h e n th a t II,.: meu’s terms. The


''".'Fib.- Cumniitli'C explained tli<- ••n plaro. and _


:.,1 uiitlined the negotiaUuiis w m: * the subject wns tben


|.il hiliour from outside tlie tonii, II, hope th a t Uio men on slriltc i .iis'i.li-r their doeiKiiiii and return


i peii.sl, Uiiiugli with iiiadoiiiiate • ilie work proci-eded a.s sati.slactorily


ilm imsition


.1 - - - c took place Uio , Y’ovcy, at tile previous evening’s mecUiig, j


' ^Board. They yroro stamUng alono j Uiey tlicinselvcs up to do a job Uiat nobody .-mj Uiey were not rciiuired. Mr.


-------------_ „ gave


ii. fair explantion of both sides of the dispute, and no one could find fault wiUi lus statement.


What they cUd find fault with was Uic atlitudo of the general committee, and membors should insist that tho men return to work pending n settlement. The employees were willing to g;>


PMiu.iliv all Uie employees __<»ncern^ I — £:ciic-l ih ■ agreement nnd work proceoik-d n.s


hack at the old rate until Iho result of tho nrlii- Uie Sectional Council w.is <b.s-


until Uio iie-.v and ajiplause).


proiKisitioii lo make—to work on the old tci-n4 ' !■ -


-- were made. (Hear, hoar


FUNCTTIO.NS OF M’AGES BOARD. .Mr. A-niew, assisuiil divisional organiser of


Uie North-M’csterii -area, addressed the mccUiig at some length, imd said ho desired to assocmlc .'I'iinscU with Uio regret expressed by the cliaii- rehvlive lo the occasion wlucli was ^ . ,


sihlo for his visit to GUtlicroo along wiUi Ins colleagues. He desired to stale as coiiasely is possible the exact poeilioii witii regard to the macliincry set up iii the Co-operauvo move- uierit for dealing wiUi ipie-stioiis of wages md


rOltVLlvls tv ti*iv


conditions of service for Uie membei-s of Urn local society should have a


luriiien" heUvieif th ? * 's ''^ e lv '’»“^ 'c'i«irand “dolinite understanding of Uie circimi- w h id^■ e s !.,lM ^ ^ stances which had led to the present tegreto-


present ivtc fn fm*? later iinici'’cascd itiK


pot m from the pen of Jfr. nils was written whilst


i;or of iho work to which wo a>. writieii to Mr. Fletcher in


OIK propot


.ritul:ili>>“!. were, liowovor, premature .Saliirdav the coinmittco of the local (<f a notification tlmt tho men ' ' work th a t niglit until tho dispute


fto tniuiiic lia.s arisen- oI viirroiit trade


-as is tho uniform disijutcs—from the


*^pjy,'\-ili)'ng with ten other societies,^is a Mn.lior of the North-East Lancasliiro Small


ci'etts n-'Oro =>'“ * Wages Uoard, these Si.-ti.' SCI ctiiiiR from a larger organisation iTmcaiis of which tliu Societies fonncriy Lit with the cniployecs. through their „jo!i-th ' National Union of Dislrilmtivc


ff. rki rs. Till', FACTS OF THE CASE.


Tiiirty mcinlior.s of the Clithcroc Society’s


call lire n.volvcd in tlio dispute. ' Till- in tiiiiiuin wage for hrancli managers - Wl' ck. The proiM>ee<l reduction


!*'s to 7ll<. but later 75s. was the figure cfirM. 'flic Union liold out for a wage of


% u l t mall- assi ,stants (ov.r 21) were paid i i ,


........... l i r s r ; : ; i f . i


ral of file Sucieties as employers lo ro- tlie wages of the slaff- Tlio Clitheroo


to


coMderablo j tlie Societies


®’*’*'*'nmVnitiilatiiig tliemselvos tliat they had' Oic full effects of the dispute. The


j


-pjjg feeling was differences


between


genonJly tho


expressed parties wore


th a t so


sion, a resolution w.ns proposed and .seconded expressing confidence in the committee. An amendment was siibraittcd recommend­


ing tho Committee to ro-opon tlic shops and to rc-engago tho men a t tho old rates, pend­ ing a settlement. On being p u t to tho veto 55 v oM for the amendment and 103 for tlie resolution.


VIEWS OF OFFICIALS N.U.D.A.W.


ESiPLOVEE'S=' CASE. OF THE


The omiiloyeos promoted a mooting which


was liold also in tho Congregational Scliool- rooin, on 'Tuesday evening and was largely


attended. Mr. J. Forrester, who presided, said that . . , ” ,


cveryono who had Iho interest of tho Co-opero- tivo movement a t h c ^ t must deplore ^ tlio


c i t i n g position of affairs between the CUtho-


slight tli.at they ought to bo settled hut iioitlier side displayed n willingness to " climb down.” After .a long, and a t times heated, discus­


wo could only receive a noUco of cancellation of agreomonb from one of the parties to that agreement, and stated clearly that the party, 60 far as we were concerned, was tho Sectional Coundl of tho Hours and Wages Board with whom wo had agreed to enter into the consid­ eration of modifications. Tho Nortli-East Lan­ cashire Board replied tliat tlioy had seceded from tho general body, Tho fcfniall Societies organisation intimated that they had nothing to do with the North-Bast liancasliire area and that communications or inq^uiricu affecting tho small societies should bo diixictcd lo the execu­ tive of the Small Societies* Aesodataon.


SHOULD SMALLEll SOCIE'TIES 'THE PACE?


SBT


to commejid itself lo us, wo had no alteiuaUve but to moot thorn and discuss rates of rvages with Uieiu. But you will seo Hniit wo could not allow Uio Nortli-East Lancashiro Hours and Wages Board or Uio Small Societies iatioii to sot llio pace foii the larger bodies. V\o iiitei-viowod Uho Small Societies (which affects area) on two occasions, but coull not como to any agreement for Uio reason I havd s ta t^ Uio impossibUity of conceding more to them Uian to Uio gonerid body of soaotiea.


lou


who ai-o engaged in tho cot.ten trade luiow the methods adopted in yom- ovm industry when


iigreonioiits have lo bo imtered into. Hour oUiciats do not negotiate wiUi smaller mnnufac- luiers uiitU tho larger body has beon met aud sumo ddhiite arraiigemont decided upon, and then you would sti-eiiuously oppose any further ruductiou Uiau was conceded by the general body of your follow workei's. As 1 liavo said„ wo met the Small Societies and could not coins to an agroomout, and they suggested Uioy should put Uio lower rates into operaUon and go on until somolhiiig definite was decided. Well tho cotton manufacturers suggested some­ thing’ a short tune ago which you did not agere to. 'They told you that certain rcducUons wo^d bo put into operations on a specific date. That rediicUon was such tliat you could not accept it, and tho result was that you wiUidrew your labour. 'That is our posiUou exactly. Mo fee that tlio amount wliich i t is desired to deduct from Uio wages of our mcinhers u too drastic, and also that tho North-East Lau- casliiro and Uio SinaU Societies A s^ a tso i i ought to have waited uiiUl a gcnerid settlement WM readied. M’o Uierefore appeal to tlho co- operaUvo spirit mid to the triule union spirit to seo t-liat our members are not unjusUy pen­ alised, and that they have justice done to Uioiii


in Uiis [larticuiar issue.


Gh'cshini -and North IVides, said i t was a mat­ ter for regret tliat tlioy had to sUmd on Uiat nlatforni to preach tho principles of Uio spirit of co-operatioii aud tho need for mfusmg a more hmnane atmosphere mid touch into Iheu


Mr Bcardswoi'tli, divisional


do-iliiigs wiUi Olio anoUior. '1 am gomg to L dolhiilcly,” he declared, “that Urn wholo re- tiiliisiliility ^ for this lamentable state oi atfiurs liei chmly at U.e doors of


of management wlio comijosu Uio craiUi Sk - ielie^’ iVssoci-vUon, and that hnally if >


bomds


pr.td,o into it, it is nothing but mey and mistrust between one Co-operative lioalil of maiiagi'inent'and another that puts u,


ill Uiis unfoi-tuiiato position. Reiterating the stolomcnt made by -Mr.


Agnow relative to Uic SecUomd Houra and Wa'-es Hoard, composing over 200 societies, the spo?kt-r asserlcil that if the siiiiJl societies wlw woro parties to tho origiimi ^ c em e n t refused to lioiioiir the agreement made in their nmii-


nnd on tl.eir liehaif, then Uio movement had indeed descouded m the scale


ALLEGED ” PE'I’TY JEALOUSIES.” officer for


Whilst wo felt that this was not a motliod


propared to do it, nor do our members ask i t of ns.”


SUGGESTED BREAK-AWAY FROM SMALL SOCDilTIES


Jlr. Beardsworth etigmalised i t as Uie very


antiUiesis of trade unionism for any society to ask its employees to sign an agreoment witli the full knowledge thait i t was opposed to the policy involved. Ho asserted that some of the smaller sodetios wor© in a more prosperous condition than some of tho larger institutions, and contended that men aud women Bhoiffd bo paid for Uio work Uhey performed, not in ac­ cordance to tho dimensions of tho business. Ability, fitness and capacity were, or sbotod bo, the deciding factors. "In his opinion, Uie best interests of liho Clithoroo Society \\ould do furthered by definitely breaking away from the Small Societies’ AssooiaUon. Coimbentuig in caustic vein on tho policy pm-sued by tho association in regard to Briorflold and Barrow- ford, Uio speaker piopbosied that i t would prove a rugged and tihorny patli. Clithoroo had beon called one of tho largest of the small soc- iotica- He might describe it as one of Uie smallest of tho largo societies, and ho saw no reason why an arrangement should not be made whereby tho men could return lo work aader tho old conditions pending the award of the arbitrators. If they intended to get t*o best out of Uio movement, Uiero was a duty io perfonn not only lo consumers but to_ producers and distributors, aud ovoryono associated with Uio movement. 'That was Uio ultim-ato mm ot all who ImUoved in a co-operalivo comnion- woallh. Ho moiilioned Uiat the 'Textile led- onition of Nelson bad intimated that i t was not their inlonUon to lot tho.^spute at B^- rowford and Briorfield drop. They saw diffi­ culties looming alicad. If Uioir own co-opma- livo employees were to bo treated' so ^ jus tly, then a position might bo created winch would bo fraught with tho gravest conseijnencos to Iho co-operators themselves. Naturally one did not wish to say anything that would pre- judico someUiing like' an honourablo settlement. I t was Uieir desire to avoid friction as far as possible and to minimiso tho interniption of business. NeveiUieless if tho small sociotioa organisaUon, or Uio committees ot managomont composing it, continued Uicse disputes, tho responsibility was Uicii-s. 'Tho employees were determined that under no circumsUnccs would they submit to this typo of reducUon while ar­ bitration was pending. As honourablo men, the conimilteos ot management ouglit to take tliwr omploycea biick »uid give them tlio vato of \vagc3 which were operative until tho now agreement was formulated. Whoever heard t i a soltlemont whoro a lump sum wns taken off wages with a promise of back pay if sucli w*as duo to them under tho award? That wus putting tho cart before tljo horee, and no mis- Lako.


to “tho talk concerning tho Co-operativo and tho lAohour movements,” and declared that tlicro w e no conllict between tlio two interests.


WHAT RATILED 'THE CAN? .Mr. BurUo, of Uio divisional office, Man­


able Slate of affairs. Some llUle time iigo, tUial was known a-s the Co opc-raUve Union Ltd-, created district hnnrs and w.agce bo.irds, and some 17 or 18 of these bo.ards were covered by ,


Uie North-Western District. nioso fmioUoned for some time Uien i t "•‘= ^


thev were not meeting the needs as ami i.-raciciitlv a.s they might. Varying r a ta were lieiiig obtained from various hoards, wiU the result that tliero was some amount of eli'ios relative to wages and conditions in thi


so^ictios. Two years ago a was made by all Urn t>-opcraUve


Ui-3 North-Western section of tho Union Ltd., for the dillicultics of


“


witli 17 or 18 different hoards must ho obsious mnl a Emk-ratioii of Hours and


t


rcsultcd, funned to negotiate between “ "P'°> and societies. An agrocmci.t ^was ^arrned


J>X v -


r w S ' : ; ; : ' ; ; : ; . . - ; ; r . -ushictery to h o u i socletv Uien nfidiatod hi


Unit Borinl was til© rnlct?, wages uml conditions


parlie-1, and


their entirety, as provided lor iiionl. L^nfortunatyly fibiro Hours nnd geUier satisfied t___


and nresiit since Unit liiro


idaco again between the comiiiitteo set up by teo Eederoleii Hours and "ag e s Boards and S : iffion representotives, a


1920, same manner


-g’- f X being an-i™'' “I'


and wagcfi ohlications


he


in Vorih-Kast Lancashiro iio ngrocnu.1 s _..... _


liho ■agreement to which tliey were parties and - -


’Vtrnew dtx-larcd, ‘wo .....- . U.0


rofuso<l to honour conlimmlly


wliir'i Uiev were parlies, live


six weeks ago wo received a notice from ttho Soetionai Council of the Hours .-md Wages tho


1010 IVo pointed out that wo could not Jiccept


tee 1919 agrceiiiciit, but it Uicy desired some ’’re I mi. nf the IS® agreement wo were


ngrccnieiil. and sulistituto Unit ol ^


have been


have agreed and teo nrliitr.ilors


^ in g to presenting the Coop


^' rV o p in g the b cU ^ rso cT o 110? and was made


almost brok-tn one agree-


.i,or h ut Uio j^bo desire to revert to I- cm- e l^ o '1 'um i 'c F 'u o t ic o


ennetion 9. T^oncashiro Council, and iho


from Uio ‘7®®*'®'"


teo North-East or two later


.. ^-..1


will he the committees ro- and tee Tr.ado Union


Bs finnl


for dealing xvith disputes “ U " “v<^k.


notice ro- intimating ot 1919,


desired io cancel that of


tho N.U.D..A.M’, tiiiu- ncgo-ialiiig with .U them lo secure A.W, and to recognise


of senneo la n tho agrcc-


tho NorUi-East Lanca-


Wnges Board was not alto- with somo of tho provisions,


li.-id been right down contiiiually te Uie recognition of


tee ;,-rcx-Miei.t to wliich tlicy were T®''*.'®”' ] ‘ furUiei- aj.plicatioii was made m IS in 1919 and negotiations took


.and wonh( not Iwar comparison wiUi m.ai^ nrivalo employers in Lho counlry. If ^ a r d s of manasemenl could not Sfiuaro off Uioir own littlo troubles in a gentleinanly and hononrabto way it was bound to locul to chaoo, and to , evito difficiiUies with the staff. 'Tliey had been .asked by Uie NorU.-Fxist Lancashire Hours mid Wages Board not to negoUato wiUi tho Small Societies' organisation. Row could expect anvthing hut trouble from Ui.at sort ot thing? Everv tradd unionist who understood tiie principles of his unionism .aiid know anytlung at all about negotiating with employers nould rwaliso tho imiwssihility of .accopUng tonm. from small societies avhich had not been made l,v the larger wages bo.ard. And Urn S ' ' ’-'®"''' Council embraced far more small sociotiCB than were represented in tlio Small Societies organ- i«tion. It could not r-acsou-ahly bo ex is ted Uiat thev should go boMnd tho hacks of Uio SccUoiial’ Council and offer tho small societies something wliicli liad not been offered to the bigger authority wliicli must liavo lo Llieir consideration ; it would bo faitli on tiieir p-art-


first claim I hroacli ■ f


" JfUST HAViC A It might be difficult to oxiilain some of their


UXlFORJf SCALE.’


puiiits to members, hut men in responsibio pov lions—men wlio liad the c-onduct ot trade iiion affairs ought lo he U.e first te appreciate


SoM points. Insto-sd ot that they were en- dcaTOuring, ill his opinion, to make capital oiU


the parliciilariv uiifortun-alo industrial dc- ‘


’ midst. No union to-


t.ho -Small !5orictic.s’ organisation, having seen Lkor© were m.mjf


so many had been miemployt-d for


too m.niy people wanting jobs, nnd - -


oiio could symp.vthise even with blacklegs. Bu Ihix-e men round the corner,


' ---- ^ f '" months icklegs.


o.itlifi Uiat "n


v'liaml'e Iw wh'cli they might endeavour to torco their o\vn parUciilar desires home. Boards „t management in tlic co operative moyeuient.


fear they would put into llie emploxcc. I


h:ui pridil themselves recently that ditioiis of employment were suponor ^


ditioiis - of private tradesmen— and it


good, sound tr.ado unionism


t ’_l. llvn.. TYVirfnC nlHlftllVO (uid realising the


saw to


to make thwn


Siioorioi-” ho .-idileil sigmficantlj. Tlie fact teinains that in 1919 wo liad succeeded in


has taken ^


iretUng wliat was tliouglil to ho a umfoim ’Fate throughout the Uorllh-Wcstern area Tint was renewed, or altered, m 1920, and it


is this agTcemenl that, wo are fighting to pr • ,s tins ajw


sm-vo until it is modifiod l>y Uio body in.ado it. Is tlial not ro-ieonahte? lio a,sked,


1 ilU> ix.'inx ,, k. ...... - i,v t ,0 body whieii — - ami was'answered''hF® cF®rt.s_of


: r i u i ; r t o " a r , t a t e F '" S : i " U ^ . o s o hoards tteo


originally parlies^^to


wo sav in common fairness they ought ^ until that agi'cement lias t e n modifiedj,^ the 1 «i 1 .. Thorn nro onlv olovoii socioUc6 m


^


chester, said eU-ikes wore deplorable, becau-ic Uioy were always attended by suffering r" discomfort. But those wilio ‘ struck for - principle know bofOro taking that coimso that ihoy would probably liavo to suffer. Uhey also recognised, before taking sucli a serious stop. Uiat Uiey would havo to foco misuiiderstandiiig and misropresoutation on tho part of many whom they had bcon wont to regard as friends. “And your friends, Uic ouiployocs—tho men wlio iiavo served you across tho counter- know a groat deal would bo dono to niisropie- sunt them in 70111- eyes, alUiough -Uiey were umployed by trade unionists, alUiough they were employed by moil who must know that tho public is always up against nnyono cansing them discomfort, yet they would do tlio same thing themselves under similar circumsUmccs. I t is a dcplorahlo Uiiiig when you have to go on striko against capitaliets, but it is much mor;j so’ when you have to go to the cupboard and Uko out and furbish your strike weapons and uso thorn apiinst a co-operativo society, \\hen such a lino of action is nccessai-y i t must be realised that it haa not beon taken thought, lessly or wtliout great provocation and with­ out. counUng tho cost to yoursolves and other peoplo who may suffer. And wo liavo counted Uio cosU Wo know full well, a t a time like this when Uicro is widespread distress, that »o bring oiir men oub on striko on behalf of bomoUiing that didn’t matter a Unkor's curso would bo courting disaster; but we knew and expected you to justify our action in defence of a principle dear lo Uie heart of every trade unionist. iWo know, or Uiought we know,^ Uiat every trade unionist in tho CliUioroo district


Ijj conclusion, ^Ir. Boai’dsworth alluded


s^Rment of industrial disputes by mutual agrooment round tho table, and co-oporativo societies ought to bo tho last persons to ^^y they cannot settle these matters by sensible and intelligent negotiationi. In countenanang the action of tho Small Societies’ Association they saidj in effect that direct action was tflieir only course, therefore, “direct action ’ could bo tho only reply on tho pai*t of the em ployecs. Tliero is only one clear and honour­ able way out of tlio difficulty wihich has arisen and which vfiW do justice to the name of co­ operation, lo trade unionisrn and U> your em­ ployees, and that is to insist that they ^ enall return to work on terms that will not prejudiw themsolvce or the 30,000 other people m this particular area. They must go back under the ternii of tho old agrement until Uio now ono as modified by Uio Sectional Coum^ is forth coming, and not make deductions in antiiapa- tion ot tho arbitrators’ decision. Wo apj^U'.o you not to let this matter go by default, but SCO to it Uiat tho peoplo who represent you shall not misrepresent you.


Insist upon Iho


recogniUon of tiho principle of jusUco, m to ^ ty and far doaliing, which are the basic principl-is of co-operation and tor which you stand and for which you should force your representatives


to stand also. QUESTIONS. A lengthy discussion ensued, a varidy of


questions being answered by tho umon officials, and tho meeting all through was oharactensed


''^Ono^mraher of tho audience asked it there had heen any negoUaUons xyith tho local soc- iotv Mr. Beardsworlh said ho Uiought i t was true to say Uiat olliciaUy they had had no such negotiaUons, TTiero had been c®rtom discus­ sions between the employees and “ lo boMd of nianagoment, but Uio union took no copusanco of that. There xvas special machmory for the purpose ot conducting negotiations. l l r . A. iHallows said most members of the


audience would agree with the contentions m support of co-operativo'_ aud trade union prm cipiaa, auu I.U . .


ciples, “and so do wo,’ ........................... .... ...... .


to ask, ‘Why did you open negotiaUons wite teo Small SocieiUes, in teo fii’sb instance if yoii had no right to carry them to a conclu­ sion? Had not tho Small Societies been asko-


ho added. Ho xvished If


to go to arbitration?” Answering the last question first, -


Boardsworte said they wore not prepared to go to arbitraUon with the SmaU Societies as such To do 60 would imply Uiat they were xvilling to accept a loss rate of pay Uian they got under tlio arbitraUon ol a body xvhioh ropr - sented more small societies than were mbraced by tho Small Sooiotios’ ilssociation. To enter into separate negoUatiomi with tffiem wouid amount to a breach of confidence with tho Sec­ tional Council- A week ago that day Uioy mu- iu.-Uly agreed with teat Council to go to Mb.-


NINE


tivo of tho Hours and Wages Board. Sodoty. After farther discussion a deputation wpS


. Ask the


appointed to interview t)ho committoo ot man­ agement, the deputation consisting of Messrs. Forrester, Brothorton, R Finder, Rhodes nnd Mrs. 'Tingio, along with' tho officials of tho union, and they wore received hy tho committee on tho termination of the meeting.


L E T T E R S TO T E E E D IT O R .


CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYEES STRIKE.


ON


prominent trade unionists engaged in fight* mg employees of their own? Wliore is tho much-vaunted consistency of these men? And does not tho present trouble prove th a t the workers thcmselvos are not tho best and most coi^iderato employers? Have tho trad© unionists involv^ suddenly realised tha t after all tlio * poor do\ni-trodden worker is not always in the r ight? Alas, ’twould appear sol But ne.\t time they are faced with a reduction in w'ugos. will they carefully ex­ amine tho position irom tho other man’s sido •i.e., tho employer’s? One hopes so but ’tis vain hope 1


Sir^—Is i t not a trifle humorous to find A SAIALL TIUDER.


against tlio action of tho committee of tho Co-operativo Society in causing a strike of ploye


Sir,—As a trade unionist I dcsiro to protest


eniployeos. A largo majority of the members of tho Society aro trade unionists and as sucli aro ready to protect their own interests hy overy means in Uieir power. Not long ago, a considerablo number (cotton operatives) struck work to resist a reduction of Uieir wages. Now, if they felt a reduction tiu- justified ill their case, they sliould recognise th a t i t is not fair to reduce other trade miioiiists’ wages. They cannot blow hot and cold in successive breaths when dealing with the same- subject. I do not see why the men should havo to return to work on reduced rates to .await a soltlemout. They should return on tho old rates for obviously they cannot agree te a drastic reduction whilst food p r i i^ remain high. ^ t to n workers may say 'th a t ns they havo had to stemd a reduction oveiybody else should hut is th a t fair. Tho dispute should bo settled by arbitration and until Hint is dono the workers have a right to tho old rates. That a t least is tho opinion of


A COTTON WORKER AVHO STRUCK.


Iration, and when they mot the local homd of nnuiagcment Uioy wore told there coffid bo no further negotiaUoiis until the men b ^ rraumcJ work. Did ho understand Uiat tho bwrd woro willing to withdraw ithat? If so, then U^ro was some possibility of arranging matters. But they could not expect men to resume work at a reduced wage and discuss the merits of tUo reduction tifterwards.


firkt qnesUon, ho had already explained lus view on tee internal squabbles of the various boards of management which had led to the creation of teroo organisations. So far as teo employ­ ees were concerned they had te d ^ d o tee policy of their union, which was to obtain tlio


In reference to the


Mmo' rates of pav throughout the Norlh-Wcsl- Ho contended that the creation i.l


orn area.


various boards all tended to uio chaotic ^ m their dealings, hut the employees had no right to s.ay that teo small sociolics or any oteors should ho a part of the Sectional Council, '^ ey did meet tho Small SocioUcs; they felt they ought to accept the invitation; hut Uio point to bo appreciated was teat they could not offer more or bolter terms than they had offered t,i tho SccUonal Council. They could not dictate on tee policy ot teo societies, but they belioyed


----------- - - , ,


that it was not in tee best interests of tee co-operalivo movement that tins spUtUng aim hro-vking away shoold conliuuo.


A momher ot the audience gave it as Ins .


would bo unUi us to tho last. I havo^ Btitutional bias in favour of constitutional action; but it is difficult to persuade people to follow constiiutioniU or poiiceful metliods when you arc up iiguiiist Uiosc who rule over you and cojII tliemselvos honefactore, )*ot make constitutional action inipos<jblo. For what was


opinion Uiat the raombors of the union made a tactical error in over approaching teo ™»tl societies on a xvngo question, a d ^ g tLat they could carry courtesy too far. On matters at- feeling liours and other details no exception could bo token but not on wag«, because therein a vital prinaplo was involved and thej had to adhere to the bigger secUons. I t was Uio tact of mooting the Small Societies te i t had given rise to teo misunderstanding, and thereby led tho empliyecs to sign the agree- meTuUdte teo locitl society. I t wi« recog^ nised teat teo employees made a sUp m that course, and that acUon had been played on.’ But sensible trade unionists should liayo known they woro doing WTong in asking the men to sign. Hiat was teo boginmng of the trouble, lienco tho references to ‘‘scraps ot Ho only ■ regretted that ono of


nhont ono hnmlroil pomons, a.s compared nith. 30 000 in t i le NorthAVestern area. Is it right


teal wo should ^ allow im»n ill© sitiiaiion? Our poli^' been one rate for all co-oporativo workers m


that to-day. If we to accept tho rodur-


lions propos m«iii that teo larger ones Uoi; ^umpos^ ''y ^ ' ’„ ! r ’'w S ' ‘::mo


Uio position? Wo had an agreement, draivn up in 1920, to which your committee were parlies, being represented through Tho North-li»ast Lan- cjushiro Houm ond Wages Board a t tho Sw- tional Council. 1 am not going all over the '.'round covered by xny colleagues, but you have heard that over 200 societioa put tbcir confi denco in Uiat Council. And many of Uicm are smaller societies than Clitheroc. If Chthcroo ‘6 tho largest of the small societies i t ifi also _ the smallest of tho largo societies. Which remind.s me of a trick wo used to play in our young days when wo tied a tin can to a dog s tan, set tho animal going, and then rovolvcd nio problem in our minds as to whoUicr tlio dog ran because the can rattled, or wh^licr the can rntUed because tho dog ran. *^010 are societioi around Bolton much ^ smaller ^ Uuui these, yet Uiey havo placed their deeumes in tlio linmls of* the SeoUonal Council. The Council began its work of modification in tho usual wny^ and after starting wide apart, Uioy have como closer togoUier until there is but a narrow gulf eeparaUng as and that is on the way to being broached Thoso societies who stood by tho Council lu e roaiiing t’lio benefit of acting on lino? of co-op- eralivo unity, justice and fair dealing; ^tlicT shops remain open. They are not in Uie invid­ ious position of employing black-log labour; Uioy havo not bcvsmirehed Uio name of co-op­ eration, nor grossly misrepresented their mem­ bers. Your committee ought to have done the same thing, nnd thev can keep their heads up now, wiUiout prejudice, by throwing open the sliops nml jicmitting your employees to return to worlc on the statu.s quo—tho only Uirnis on wliich they can return jiemlnig tlio decision of tho arbitrators.


I t must bo reracmbcced that


I be Nnrte-M'eRlcni area, and wo ,-idliore to *0^


mffi 'wiint'lo know-why. it wo teievo in one mto for Uio wliolo area, wo h.avo


---------- - ----- conceded im., of 19s a week for assistants and 1/s .


M ’ or manag^m C r c s u l t of auoh a thing is ■pcrfecUy obvious. Ro the consoquencce what tbo^ may. w8 have Wreod


S ^ « p .U te in g ”‘‘teo ■interests of


can wo allow such n tihing to go on. not submit to it, becaus^vo should in order


under no ur- to P l ^ olovon smaU sodotieo. Wo arc not


tho co-operativo employee is as good a irndc unionist ns the employe© of any privato trader Tho victories that ihnvo been won for trade unionism by thoso who havo gone before us were not banded down for those in private trade, but for trade uniorusts in general, no matter who they might ho working for. ^ Ami voiir employees are inlieritors of Uibso. rights, and they are going to piard tho rights of col­ lective Iwirgaining ns jealously ns you would guard them if you thought they wore being jeopardUod. Wo cannot concede prcfcrcntaal treatment to yonr society or any oUicr: wo are not going to prejudice thousands of em­ ployees throughout the area by taking sach a. course.- Special macfliinory was sot up for tho


Uwm' offici.iH'"or'"teo union was not jrcscyd r t Monday’s meeting to accept the imatation to go' on teo platform, then tee w-holo matter TOiild have been cleared up, and there was littli' doubt teat tho men would have heo.i Kick at work next morning.


Mr. Bc.ird.sworth urged .that, having regard .


tu the great amount ol onunployment, it was not ten thing to ask tho men to sign teo agroy mcnl. Ho intimated an intention to carry out a propagand.a whicli would crixile a body ol opinion to do tho right tiling with tho em­ ployees. At any rate, they would continue th.it propaganda until they got aitistaclion. It w.is not Uioir desire to erabiltor feeling, and ho throw out a suggestion that a dopntalion might bo appointed to interview Uio board el management in an endeavour to find a '™y out which would ho honourable to bote sidos^ Mr."'itenow 'coiiten<lc<l that liaving a


sever their Boards, Uio cominittco had an equal right to ------- ^-- , . , ,


leave the Small Societies Association. 3Ir. HaJIow-s .said ho had been trying during


Uin afternoon lo got into touch v.-ilh the small societies bv telephone to seo it it was not pos­ sible te get teo men back to Iho shops. So far as h t know, Uie Clithcroe Society had


always toed tho lino in Iho matter of its „me™cnts. 'Hiey were not accountable tor .iclioas altribntiihlo to tlho president ol tho sm.aU societies; their interest was centred in their own society nnd they had tried to bo clen'n' and fair. In Uio negoti-itions a counter­ proposal was made nnd Lho committee advanced treim 70s. lo 75s. tor branch managers, nnd 1 c undcrstoml that it no other proposals forthcoming, they were willing to p on, had onde.avoured to got into touch wit prosident of Iho small societies to too if thej


Society aud I am ono who supported tho vote of coufidonco in tlio committeo and supported their onction. Further I am a trade unionist. I t will interest the strikers to know tha t tlio main reason for my action on Monday night


Sir,— am a member of tlio Co-operative


was based upon the literature they distri­ buted* in support of their own case. From their circulars i t is clear th a t their union is figiiling tho sniall societies simply bccaiuso they know tliat if tliey concede anything to . tliofio sociotice the larger societies will de­ mand the same reduction.


officials of tho union arc using tho members employed by tho small societies ns pawns in a gamo. They care little if the local men lose their jobs as lone as tho majority got what they want. They say “ The Small Sociotios employing about ono hundred, seek to impose terms which, if wo had to accept would affect tho conditions of 30,000 of our members in tho North ’Western area.” Exactly! They might continue to say, “ As long as wo keep as members the 30,000 what does i t matter what happens to tho odd hundred?” Tho small societies employ few workers and can easily replace them—as a t MTialloy ;ind Brierfield, and, maybe, a t Olithoroo. Still, tho union won’t have given way and the largo societies, who employ many more, 'will not bo able to obtain a largo enough number of workers to replace tlioir regular staffs. Tlioroforo, in tho large tmvns, the Societies must give in or starve their members. I t is tho old true tale of tho officials running tho union nnd the members are very blind if they cannot seo through tho ganio. The snial! societies cannot afford to pay tho same wages as tho big ones. Living is dearer in tho big towns and a man may havo to spend 3s. or 4s. a week in Irani faros to get to his work. Wliat such aocietice pay does not affect CHthoroo, or Whalley^ or Briorficld. Tlio only point for tlie l ittle societies to consider is tha t they must pay w.agos such as will keep tho workmen in de­ cent conditions.


and still remain excellent for the work done. Co-opera ask why prices are higher in tlioir .shops than in some others. Tiio answer is tlmt tho Society has bigger expenses—tho extra ponce Uioy aro cliargcxl Is to pay the big wages. The Co-op. employees will have to .stand reductions like anybody else and by allowing themselves to bo used as pawns in tlie gamo Uioy only joopnrdi.so their chances of working a t all. There are plenty now un- nblo Uiough willing to work nnd if these take i t into tlinir heads to take tho strikers* jobs, i t won’t bo blacklegging b u t simply prevent­ ing pL'oplo from getting more than they are jiLstlv entitled to receive.


mid until recently by tho local Co-op. vere )ig enough to stand a considernblo re l ic t io n


A MEMBER.


BOLTON-B V-BOWLAND. OBITUARY.—On Sunday evening, Misa


■’ * connection with the Federated '®


Hannah Cook, of Holden, p.'issoil quietly away a t tho ripe, ago of 87 years. She was tho oldo.st inhabitant in tho parish. For many years slio has been able to do littlo for horscif and Ima not been out of doors for a long time. Paralysis of one sido has beon the cause of her helplessness, but sIio lias l>omo her infirmity with exemplary fortitude. Hot remains were interrctl on Tliursday last in tho Pnrisli cliurchynrd a t Tossido.


HOLIDAYS NEXT WEEK.


August 13th—Bradford, Brighouso, Cromp­ ton, Denton, iidonliold, Ramsbottom, Reddish, Shaw.


were Ho


with tho ^


woro willing to go to arhilraUon. Mr Reardsworth asked what the Small Some-


tics were out for it i t WM not to pay It that u-ns not their funo'ion, why have a imdliplicitv of hoards? iHo wont on to ®"Uciso tep Fresidont ot tho Small Socielios and, in-


’'Mr^'niillows exclaimed: I .^®h’^


w.int mo to answer for tho Frcsidontl J lr Bcardsworth: No, I accept your state


J®"


ment that yon don’t xvunt to pay Ices OTges— JTr. Hallows: Not lower than teo other largo


°°5l’r.''RcardaworUi •- Then what aro wo fighting aboutT


Mr. Hallows: I am spoakmg os a reprosenta- i HOLIDAY ALBUMS. How many people do you know who keep a


holiday album, a.^ks a “Daily Chronclo” writer. Wo liad a sight of one ycster<h»y which struck U.S as on© of tho most useful compilations ever made for the benefit of one’s friends. Tho holiday-maker whoso album wo scanned made a praclico of entering tiho folloat x>^Ttio- ulara of all tho places ho viated in regard .>o accommodation, amusomenfs, excursions, etc. Wlion asked by his friends to recomrasnd a good place for a summer vacation ho had a host of places to suggest, and in ovory case could tell them of good rooms to apply to and wbat


facilities were a^'ailablq for Imving a good time. I t }s a hobby to imitate.


I contend tlmt the wages In short, the m [111 l i


- r r |


t'.U It ‘1


I. 33-rt


r i i ■ f ir


\


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