John R. Raynes

“ It is interesting to note that the six superannuated members that year included Geo. Rushworth, of Leeds, first Treasurer of the Society. Other railway societies bitterly assailed the growing stability of the Associated, and the grounds chosen for these attacks were exceedingly foolish. For example, opponents started the rumour that the Associated was started by a lot of old men to enable them to get provision for themselves, whereas, although it was open to all enginemen and firemen from 1880 to 1883, irrespective of age, only three men over 60 years of age joined, and only 13 over 50 years. ”

“ Again, during the winter months the companies would require more hands if all men were reduced to a bare six days per week, but during the summer months men would only get from three to four days weekly, seeing that the companies do not at present guarantee a full week's pay or work, or they would be compelled to discharge a good many of their men. ”

“ The end of the year 1892 saw a total membership of 6,710, four new branches, and a balance in hand of £26,488. The companies had during that year reduced working time to four days weekly, and as the cost of living was increasing, men were finding it impossible to pay their trade union subscriptions out of the pittance they received. On the matter of regulation of hours it was held that men had no right to ask Parliament to do for them what they ought to do for themselves. ”

“ We strongly urge our members not to strike, but to act strictly to the rules of the Society, and not be led away by men unacquainted with the duties of enginemen and firemen.
"4. Any member refusing to work without the consent of the Society Executive, as per Rule 20, Clause I., shall not be entitled to any benefits." ”

“ They would have asked for a programme to be endorsed to lay before the Committee, along with trenchant evidence of enginemen's conditions, which were grievous in the extreme in those days. An opportunity was missed, and, as a result, evidence which might have been on record is not on record. The letter to branches says that the agitation existed in several industries, and it should have been backed up. It advises branches to obtain interviews with directors who would not recognise the Society, and, following on the decision, it sharply
First Emblem issued by the Society. ”

“ C. E. Stretton as consulting engineer to the Society, and to express a desire that he should accept £20, or accept the same value in some other form. Mr. Stretton, who had been generosity itself to two of the railway societies, elected to receive an illuminated address, which was duly executed and presented at an open meeting at Leeds.
The Delegate Meeting referred to above had elected a new Executive, which came into office on March 19th of 1893, the old Executive conducting business in the meantime, and meeting jointly with the new members in March. ”

“ We consider that to bring a matter of such great importance to a successful issue, it is absolutely necessary that the opinion of men on adjacent railways should first have been obtained, and seeing this has not been done, we consider they would be greatly affected, and considering the great number of enginemen and firemen in the county, we are of opinion that the present time would be inopportune for the men to strike. ”

“ All miles run over 150 by passenger train, and over 120 by goods train, should be paid for at overtime rates. We have also the grievance of lodging away from home, which is itself a moral evil." It is important to note here that the conditions Mr. ”