John R. Raynes

“ Wages: Enginemen and electric motormen, 20s. per day (to suffer no reduction if reduced to firemen or electric trainmen) . Firemen, assistant electric drivers and electric trainmen, 15s, per day. (If not promoted to driver or motorman after ten years service, to be paid the driver's or motorman's scale of pay; if reduced to cleaners or gatemen, to suffer no reduction) . Cleaners and electric train gatemen, 10s. per day. When engaged on higher duties, to be paid on the scale applicable to those duties. ”

“ Even upon the evidence already given, the present system of ownership and working in the coal industry stands condemned, and some other system must be substituted for it, either nationalisation or a method of unification by national purchase or by joint control. It is in the interests of the country that the colliery worker shall have an effective voice in the direction of the mine. ”

“ To that Conference the General Secretary tendered a lengthy and important review of progress made up to that time. Naturally, the Eyesight Test came into prominence, and Sir Herbert Walker advanced the suggestion that the Board of Trade should appoint somebody to hold an inquiry into the question, at which the Society could produce evidence. ”

“ Six free passes to be available annually, to any part of the United Kingdom, to the men, their wives, and families. Meal Times: All duties shall be so arranged that a minimum of 30 minutes shall be allowed for taking food between the 3rd and 4th hour of booking on duty, without loss of pay. Suitable accommodation to be provided to partake of food. Clothing: Three suits of combination overalls, or jackets and trousers, as preferred, be supplied, and laundered at the expense of the railway management. One top-coat, one reefer jacket, one serge jacket, two caps and two pairs of boots annually. ”

“ The provisions as to ill-health, defective eyesight, retirement, and special duties, were preserved, with the additions that loco. foremen should be selected from drivers; that all engine cabs should be standardised; that a committee of the Society should supervise all engines for that purpose; that enginemen be supplied with watches, repairable at the company's expense; that split duties be abolished, and that men shall live where they choose. ”

“ Last year about £35,000,000 worth of traffic was carried for the Government-about two-thirds goods and one-third passenger traffic. At the end of 1916, when the railway companies were called upon to send 300 locomotives to France, passenger services had to be drastically curtailed, and the surcharge of 50 per cent. was put on all ordinary fares with the object of discouraging travel. This 50 per cent. increase," Sir Herbert added, "did have an appreciable effect in 1917, especially in the early part of the year. ”

“ The reason for this request is that after some months' negotiation my Executive have to-day received from the Railway Executive Committee their final word and offer on wages increase for drivers, motormen, firemen, and cleaners, and as the amounts of increase offered are nothing approaching the demands of the Society, and the feelings of our members in the country are intense, my Executive feel it to be their duty to lay the case before the Cabinet as a final effort before laying the whole position before our members. ”

“ We had become familiar with the presence of women gate-keepers, porters, guards, carriage and engine cleaners, and even ticket inspectors. When in 1919 there came a mighty release of men, new light and life came, albeit England in 1921 was still only a sorry comparison to its former self. ”

“ The Board of Trade invited the Society to appoint one representative to an Eyesight Test Committee being formed, and after a resolution of protest, an additional representative was conceded. It was decided to recall the 1919 A.A.D. during October, to formulate the National Programme previously quoted, for presentation to the Railway Executive. An increase of contributions by twopence weekly was also recommended to branches, in view of the re-consideration of salaries and wages paid to officials, staff, and organizers. ”

“ Rich people travelled from Leeds to Scarborough by aeroplane, and every available motor was seized, at prices up to £20 for the trip, to reach distant towns. But not all the aeroplanes and motors could dispense with the man on the footplate, and thousands of extra telegrams had to be sent. ”

“ Wages and promotion, therefore, predominated during June, but Friday, July 11th, saw the Society on the eve of a very serious duel outside the Conference-room. The Great Northern Railway. despite the fact that men were needed and lines were clogged with traffic, would not reinstate those young men who had joined the forces without the permission of the Company. ”

“ Right of all workers to wages adequate to maintain a "reasonable standard of life"; (4) Equal pay for equal work, irrespective of sex: (5) A weekly rest for all, including Sunday or its equivalent; (6) Eight-hour day or 48-hour week, with certain special exceptions; (7) Institution of a system of inspection to ensure enforcement of laws and regulations for workers' protection. ”