Sunday, March 27, 2011

William Bywater — a life-long ASE member

William Bywater — a life-long ASE member

The Web of English History

http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/trade-us/bywater.htm

Derek Bywater sent me the following information and the images of his great-great grandfather and the certificate. My thanks to him.


Mr Derek Bywater says:—

Bywater familyWilliam Bywater, his second wife, Charlotte, and their son, Henry.

William Bywater was a secretary in the ASE in 1850 and there is a very interesting blog on him Hayes peoples history. We have in our possession the presentation certificate [see below] and the wallet given to him when he retired in 1913. His father, Thomas Bywater, was a clothmaker in Woodhouse Leeds. He was born about 1810. William started his adult life as a blacksmith; he married and had two sons. When his wife died he moved to Bridgwater leaving his sons living with his father back in Leeds. William remarried and moved onto Nine Elms London where my grandfather {Henry, pictured above] was born. I do have all the history but some parts are missing I just wished my father had told me more. My father was a trade unionist as was I: I was in the NGA since I was a compositor by trade (now obsolete) more's the pity.


The following information is from the Hayes Peoples Blog

Amalgamated Society of Engineers (Southall) 1913

At a meeting of Southall branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) (later Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) held at Northcote Arms, Southall smoking concert occasion presentation of an award of merit

Mr Cantwell Presided
Mr Donkinson Executive member
Mr Dumbleton Branch secretary

ASE certificate

For a larger image, click here

Mr William Bywater related a life long experience in connection with trade unionism. His stewardship commenced in 1850 in the employ of the Railway Foundry at Leeds, where he was apprenticed as smith, twelve months before the forming of the Society of Engineers. It was from that foundry the first fast express engine, the Jenny Lind went out. At the time of such locomotive taking the iron road he listened to the discussions of the advocates of trade unionism. and subsequently became one of its earliest members. He considered himself one of the ideal trade unionists. His shop was one of the finest trade unionist shops of that day, some 62 years ago when he joined as trade unionist at the age of nearly 21 years. He stood before them as a man over 80.

He had fulfilled two secretaryships, first at Leeds and secondly at Bridgwater in 1874. He had been through all the battles of trade unionism. He played an important part in the boilermakers strike at Leeds in 1866, and at Bridgwater in later years. On each occasion his Executive Council enabled him to get the workers back to their employment. In those days he was a man who stuck up for his employer. He did so because the firms were in the right and his fellow-workers in the wrong. He considered the object of an ideal trade unionist was to support the party which was in the right, and this he did in his day by upholding the employers of labour, and on each occasion he received the support of his Society at head-quarters.

He thanked the Amalgamated Society of Engineers for having founded such an excellent excellent institution which provided him with ampler means of comfortable subsistence in old age and kept him out of the poor house. When old age was creeping on with weakened intellect and diminished strength he was in a position to thank god for the provision which his Society had secured .He appreciated the gifts presented to him

At the conclusion of his remarks Mr Bywater was greeted with the singing of “He’s a jolly good fellow”

A peculiar coincidence in connection with Mr Bywater is the fact that he was formerly a blacksmith and had three uncles who were blacksmiths and he himself was known as “Uncle” to the members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE)

In full appreciation of these facts the Chairman followed by singing the “Village blacksmith” the ringing and clanging being rhythmically taken up by the brothers in the Lodge.

The illuminated ASE address presented to Mr Bywater [see above] bore the following inscription:—

“Amalgamated Society of Engineers (Sectional Societies amalgamated 1857) present to Brother William Bywater of Southall branch by special resolution of the Executive Council for faithful services in the capacity of Branch secretary and other branch officers extending over 57 years.
Dated December 1913 Signed Robert Young, Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) General Secretary.

Still achieving, still pursuing Learn to labour and to wait”

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Bristol Labour Election Leaflet 1933


Click to enlarge

Bristol Labour Election Leaflet 1933 - Arthur Cox
T.Jefferes, S.C. Pope, E.H. Parker

Ambulance Dispute - Hillingdon 1989-1990









Click on pictures tio enlarge

COHSE Hillingdon & District 618 Banner
Uxbridge Labour Party Banner

Hillingdon Hospital Accident & Emergency and Theatre Nurses

Note Cllr Simon Geldberg, Pete Marshall, COHSE, Wally Kennedy

Ambulance Dispute 1989-1990



Ambulance workers enjoyed unprecedented levels of public support
during the six-month dispute as opinion polls found more than four out of five people consistently backed the unions.

Successive Gallup polls for the Daily Telegraph found even a majority of Conserative voters felt Health Secretary Kenneth Clarke should come up with more cash as he took the brunt of the blame for the disruption to patient services.

Electors said they would even be prepared to pay a little more income tax to fund a deal, while other health service staff, including nurses, disclosed that they would not demand an equal pay rise if ambulance crews and control room staff were awarded more than the going rate.

Such sympathy was evident daily by the millions of pounds that filled the buckets
thrust forward by the ubiquitous, fluorescent-jacketed ambulance staff that became as much a part of shopping centres as Boots and McDonalds.

TUC General Secretary Norman Willis told how would-be queue-jumpers were ordered to the back of the line while he waited patiently to add his name (no doubt again) to the record-breaking petition.

All good stuff for the unions but, of course, it was never ordained to be so, as prevous disputes involving NHS workers in the 1970s and early 1980s demonstrated.

This time round the five unions involved COHSE, NUPE, TGWU, NALGO and GMB — paved the way for their own success by breaking new ground with a slick public relations campaign that went further than any previously used by a workforce during a dispute.

The initiative was seized with a strategy that had its effect on the wider world of statements and actions worked out, instead of merely addressing the troops, and realised the importance of newspaper, radio and TV in getting a message across.

Once a groundswell of public opinion had been generated, every opportunity was taken to portray the crews and not the Government as the patient's friend and to hammer home a simple message.

Initiatives were repeatedly launched to make the running rather than merely provide reaction which, by staying one step ahead, often wrong-footed the Government and kept the Departmental of Health on the defensive for much of the time.

Frequent press conferences, a national demonstration, the petition, a quarter-hour of action and even a hunger strike kept the dispute in the public eye when it might have been forgotten.

The unity displayed by the five unions and the absence of what for the NHS used to be traditional in-fighting, rivalry and factionalism allowed a united front to be displayed which forced journalists to look towards the Government for splits and divisions.

In that vein, tasks were allocated to avoid repetition and confusion. NUPE's Roger Poole, the chief negotiator, became the public voice and was constantly in the media, modelling a new hair cut and a businessman's suit to look as well as sound the part.

Meanwhile, COHSE's Bob Abberley beavered away behind the scenes in Parliament to put crucial political pressure on Ministers which was as important.

Several years ago everyone would have been clamouring to appear on TV as they jockeyed for status and, no doubt, future members. Now a trio of those involved, COHSE, NUPE and NALGO, could end up merging — partly as a result of the demonstration that they can work together.

The two immediate goals of the dispute

— a substantial pay rise and new pay machinery — were constantly pressed home in simple, relevant terms by the unions, while other issues such as local bargaining and privatisation which the public would either not understand or have less sympathy with were left in the background.

Opinion polls showed that the ambulance worker-supporting public did not know what the Government's offer was or how the pay mechanism demanded would work. But what they did believe was that crews were worth more, and the new system would just about rule out future industrial action.

The employers, on the other hand, varied their official spokesman between Kenneth Clarke, NHS chief executive Duncan Nichol, and David Rennie, who chairs the employers' side on the Whitley Council negotiating body, with the result that apparent differences of opinion were interpreted as splits.

In many respects the unions' public relations campaign set a model for others to follow and established standards by which they will be judged in the future.

The strategy was not entirely new, although the effective use of the latest communications technology which meant Poole and Abberley could always be reached for an instant quote did break new ground.

After all. National Union of Railwaymen General Secretary Jimmy Knapp
projected himself very successfully last summer as the passengers' friend in the confrontation with BR over pay and bargaining rights by hammering home a simple message and making it relevant to the wider travelling public rather than limiting the dispute to the interests of his members.

And the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions hired a PR firm with close links to the labour movement to get their message across in the shorter working week campaign.

But the five national negotiators, dubbed the "famous five" for the way they often appeared together and even started wearing matching overcoats, took PR a significant step further.

The dispute was right for the tactics. Ambulance workers had a reasonable it not a good case and have a high public profile because of the life-and-death nature of the job. The timing of the dispute was also right in that the polls had already started to move against the Government, which the unions were able to capitalise on.

Flashing blue lights and 999 sirens provided excellent TV pictures in particular and the service has something of a glamorous image for outsiders.

Further, crews used to dealing with the public in high-pressure situations adapted
well to the glare of TV lights and, judging by the number of local stunts launched,
actually liked the media attention.

Running a similar campaign on behalf of other low-paid groups such as ancillary workers — however deserving — will not be as easy. But the lessons are there and should be learnt.

Splits and in-fighting in the union camp would have been reported. Violent picketing and clashes with the police would have made attention-grabbing TV pictures. Disputes will be covered in the form they occur. It's up to the unions how they want to run their campaigns, but if it's public opinion they want on their side, they could do worse than copy the ambulance workers.

Kevin Maguire is the Daily Telegraph labour correspondent.

He writes here in a personal capacity.

COHSE Journal May 1990

NOTES

In my experience, this was undoubtedly one of the best led strikes in the NHS, the ability to use the media and the discipline of local Ambulance union reps and members was key to winning and maintaining public support.

The hub of the dispute was undoubtedly London and West London in particular most notably Park Royal, Feltham, Twickenham and Hillingdon ambulance stations.

Crews in Birmingham, Merseyside and Dorset were also very strong

The tactic of slowly increasing pressure on employer (overtime bans, emergencies only etc) forced the management in frustration to effectively “lock out” ambulance staff by refusing to send any calls to these stations and bring in the Army.

The Crews responded by occupying the ambulance stations as they did at Hillingdon, the management being forced to issue injunctions, but with little effect.

Elsewhere, in the country, Ambulance management in many areas did not follow London’s tactics and the crews remained at work, allowing them to secure even more support and money for those “locked out”.

Nine weeks into the dispute the Health Service Journal reported that an estimated 27 out of 44 ambulance services were operating a 999 only service.

Kenneth Clarke’s remarks that ambulance workers were little more than “professional drivers” totally incensed the crews.

On January l3th 1990 75,000 attended a TUC national demonstration in support of the ambulance workers and on 30th January a day of solidarity, when South London bus drivers came out on strike.

While the dispute was not a total success, the public was confident the unions had rightly won and gave a big fillip of confidence to NHS trade unionists.

Roger Poole was an excellent public speaker and with a CP background understood the need to keep both the public and the members on side. Bob Abberley became know as “Rogers bag carrier” and Jeanette Roe COHSE Regional Officer did Stirling work with Pete Marshall COHSE Regional Secretary in galvanising COHSE members in London.

As the ambulance service had been initially part of Local Government( London County Council) most staff in London were members of NUPE 70-80%. However COHSE had from 1964 built up a small but significant membership based around the leadership of Bill Dunn at Hanwell, West London (The other key COHSE branch being at Park Royal)

The Ambulance dispute started October 1989 – March 1990 and lasted six months

The Great Ambulance petition secured 4.5 million signatures



Pictures of the Ambulance dispute in Hillingdon (Marion Way NUPE Ambulance Steward) in Uxbridge town centre collectining signaturers, on the front line at Hillingdon ambulance station, lastly army ambulance at Hillingdon Hospital


The Ambulance Strike 1989-1990

In November 1989 Ambulance crews at Hillingdon, Heathrow and Pinner
were suspended during the Ambulance pay dispute of 1989-1990.

They had refused to cover non-emergency calls
as did 68 other London stations

All were suspended and police and army were brought in to cover both emergency and non-emergency


However, suspended ambulance crews continued to provide an emergency service with a dedicated phone line/ Including a plea from staff at mount Vernon to take a severely injured car crash victim to Charring Cross Hospital.

The first local Army ambulance was used in Pinner on November 13th

The staff maintained a vigil at Hillingdon Ambulance station as well as collecting signatures in Uxbridge town centre.

The Ambulance staff had huge public support and the campaign was well run by union leader Roger Poole of NUPE. The success of which helped in securing at least a partial victory on pay and a rare defeat for the Conservatives

Local Stewards
Marion Way (NUPE)
John Drewery (COHSE)

I'Humanite 50th Anniversary 1954




Dear Comrade Duclos,

It is with pride and joy that we greet I'Humanite on this historic 50th anniversary of its first appearance on April 4, 1904.

Founded by Jean Jaures, beloved leader of French Socialism before the First World War, it has ever since preserved the best traditions of the early Socialist movement.

With the formation of, the Communist Party after the First World War (arising from the majority decision of the French Socialist Party), I'Humanite carried forward the fightfor Socialism, inspired by the great victory of the October Socialist Revolution which put an end to Tsarism and capitalism.

Under the direction of Marcel Cachin, that grand Communist stalwart, it has served as a beacon light in the struggle of the French workers, peasants and intellectuals for higher living standards, national independence and for peace and Socialism.

L'Humanite occupies an honoured position in the international Labour movement. It has won the love and affection, not only of all sincere French patriots, but of all democrats and lovers of peace throughout the world.

Outstanding in its long and honourable record is its leadership and stimulus between the wars in the fight for the Popular Front, its magnificent support for the people of Spain, and its searing exposures of Nazi agents in high circles in the French Government.

In the dark days of the Nazi occupation of France, it was the illegal I'Humanite. exemplified. by the martyred Gabriel Peri, which served to inspire the heroic resistance movement of the French people.

It held aloft the torch of freedom when many of those now in French ruling circles were collaborating withthe Nazis.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany and the emergence of the United States as the dominant imperialist power driving towards a third world war, I'Humanite has held on high the banner of world peace, friendship with the Soviet Union, and the national independence of France. Concerned with the best interests of the people of France, it has fought against all colonial oppression, especially in North Africa, and given full support to the liberation struggle of the people of Viet-Nam.

L'Humanite is a shining star among the great number of Communist and workers' newspapers in the capitalist world. It throws a brilliant light on the problems of the French people, and on the struggle of the toiling masses throughout the world for a better life, for democratic liberties, for world peace, and the advance to Socialism. In its portrayal of the gigantic socialist achievements in the Soviet Union, the triumph of the Chinese People's Republic, and the rapid advance in the People's Democracies, it serves to pierce the thick curtain of lies and distortions.

L'Humanite is the recognised voice of all true French patriots and lovers of peace. It expresses the powerful opposition of the French people to the rebirth of German militarism, and their passionate hopes and desires for a peaceful, united and democratic Germany. It champions the cause of the workers and peasants, democratic liberties and cultural advance, and the cause of the oppressed people in all parts of the world.

Long live "L'Humanite"!

Long live the Communist Party of France!

Long live World Peace!

Yours fraternally,

Harry Pollitt
Communist Party of Great Britain
1954

Salford Municipal Election - Labour Candidate 1925



To The Electors of
Docks Ward
Salford Municipal Election
Monday 2 Novmber 1925

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You favoured me with your confidence and elected
me as your representative to the Borough Council at a Bye-Election in January, 1919. The Electors so approved of my efforts that I was returned unopposed at two subsequent Elections (November, 1919, and November,
1922), and it is on account of the growing strength of the Labour Party in the Council that I am now opposed by the Conservative Party.

I have again been requested by a large number of ELECTORS, TRADE UNIONISTS and the SOUTH SALFORD LABOUR PARTY, to place
my services at your further disposal : to this wish I have willingly acceded.

During the past six years I have on every possible occasion pressed for improvements which would benefit my fellow-workers.

I am at present a member of the following Committees : Watch, Museums, Libraries and Parks, Tramways, Building and Bridges (Chairman of this Committee continuously for the past four years), and Port Sanitary Autfoerity. This, together with my past experience on other Committees, will be invaluable for future efforts.

I am wholly in favour of the LABOUR PARTY Municipal Programme.


HOUSING.

The erection of houses at rents in accordance with the workers' economic position.


TRADING DEPARTMENTS.

Gas, Electricity and Tramways undertakings to be worked for the BENEFIT of all, and not for profit.

BATHS and WASH-HOUSES.

A further extension of same, especially in Docks Ward.

EDUCATION.

I am against the present policy of cutting down the expenses, believing that money spent on Education is of benefit to all.

WORKHOUSE SITE.

I am in favour of this site being retained as Public property.

Workers, this is your fight, and if you are of opinion that I have redeemed my past promises, I assure you that, if you again have confidence in me and return me to the Borough Council, I will in the future as
in the past, give of my best for the benefit of the workers in Docks Ward
and the Borough in general.

I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Faithfully yours,
Fred A Luckarift



1 Vere Street
Salford

Frederick Albert Luckarift

1901 census
Frederick A Luckarift aged 40, born Jersey, Channel island now living Salford - Friut warehouseman

One Source states Frederick A Luckarift Died 1926 Llundudno, North Wales

Saturday, March 19, 2011

EMI Group Staff Association - Hayes Branch

The EMI Group Staff Association (Hayes Branch)

Constitution agreed 5th October 1976 covering a membership of 89, which by 1977 was 49.

There was a transfer of its engagements to the the National Executives Managers and Staffs in 1978

Sunday, March 06, 2011

Reclaim the Monument



From the top of the Monument the great stone pillar that towers 200 feet high in the heart of the City of London, there streamed yesterday (Friday 30th December 1938) a huge banner:-

“For a Happy New Year Unemployed Must Not Starve in 1939”

The unemployed (NUWM) themselves who were finally ejected by the police, told reporters how it was done. Seven or eight men walked up the steps to the top of the Monument. A diversion was created which drew away the attendant. Then the door was wedged.

Mr Alf Salisbury Secretary of the Stepney Branch National Unemployed Workers Movement “We took part in this demonstration to protest against the vicious administration of extra winter relief regulations”

Alf Salisbury
Alf Salisbury (far left) demonstrating in Stepney in 1936
Alf was born to Latvian Jewish immigrant parents in 1909, one of ten children. He left school at 14 years of age and joined the merchant marine and the National Union of Seamen.

In 1926, he jumped ship in New York. A three-year trek across the USA saw him become involved with the IWW, the `Wobblies’. Back at sea in 1929, he was arrested in Guatemala as a spy and spent seven weeks in prison.
Returning to Britain, he joined the Communist Party in 1929 and remained a loyal Communist until the end of his life. In 1936, he was victimised by being placed on a proscribed list from going back into the merchant navy. Before then, and perhaps prompting this act, he had become an activist in the National Unemployed Workers Movement and participated in anti-fascist struggles, including Cable Street.

Alf joined the International Brigade in 1937 and returned to Britain in 1938 after the Brigades were withdrawn and became secretary of the Stepney NUWM.
Rejected on medical grounds for wartime military service, in 1940 he married Lilly Nicklansky, and moved to Maryport, Cumbria, where he worked in a munitions factory, organised for the Party, and became a shop steward. Back in London in the post-war period, in 1949, Alf was to be found throwing himself in front of lorries trying to cross the picket of striking hotel workers at the Savoy, in the Strand, London.

Alf was involved in East End housing campaigns and started a rent strike, becomg evicted in the process. Over the next years, he worked in the textile, clothing, chemical and furniture industries, on the railways, edning up with the London Co-Operative Society.
He spent his remaining years as a local activist of considerable renown, being involved with trades councils, and latterly with the shopworkers' union Usdaw, until his death. In 1970, he co-founded the Waltham Forest Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
He remained involved with his union post-retirement, with London pensioners' organisations and the International Brigade Association. In the 1980s, he was exceptionally active in supporting the miners' strike and the printers sacked by Rupert Murdoch at Wapping, and the pensioners' movement.
For four decades, he was a delegate to Westminster and City Trades Council. In 1970, he co-founded Waltham Forest CND. He died on November 5th 2000, aged 91.
Sources: Morning Star November 11th 2000; Guardian December 8th 2000; The life and times of Alf Salisbury by Liane Groves Cities of London & Westminster Trades Council.






The WSPU - The Monument

On the 18th April 1913 suffragettes of the WSPU stormed the Monument in London (built
to mark the Fire of London)

You can see in the WSPU flag flying from the railings

Local Hayes WSPU supporter Marion Cunningham lived at Oakdene, Hayes End,

The National Unemployed Workers Movement (NUWM) also occupied the Monument during the Thirties and unveiled a banner



An extra message was chiselled on in 1681 – But Popish frenzy, which wrought such horrors, is not yet quenched. This was a reference to the anti-Catholic feeling of the times, and was scrubbed out in 1831 when Catholics were given civil rights.From London tourist guide


The Monument was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, and built between 1671 and 1677, After it was completed an extra message was chiselled on it in 1681 –

But Popish frenzy, which wrought such horrors, is not yet quenched.

This was a reference to the anti-Catholic feeling of the times, and was scrubbed out in 1831 when Catholics were given limited civil rights in England.


An extra message was chiselled on in 1681 – But Popish frenzy, which wrought such horrors, is not yet quenched. This was a reference to the anti-Catholic feeling of the times, and was scrubbed out in 1831 when Catholics were given civil rights.From London tourist guide

An extra message was chiselled on in 1681 – But Popish frenzy, which wrought such horrors, is not yet quenched. This was a reference to the anti-Catholic feeling of the times, and was scrubbed out in 1831 when Catholics were given civil rights.From London tourist guide