Burston School Strike - Southall National Union of Railwaymen

A brick commemorating a donation to the Burston School strike school in Burston, nr Diss, Norfolk from Southall National Union of  Railwaymen (NUR) 1917 (NUR now RMT union)

Other branches of the NUR with commemorative bricks at Burston include

Twickenham NUR
Tottenham NUR
Shepherds Bush NUR
Paddington NUR
West Ham NUR
Crewe NUR
Ipswich NUR
Kings Cross NUR
Poplar NUR
Bridgewater NUR

National Union of Railwaymen banners

Bottom picture West Ham NUR Strike Committee 1919

100-year-old NUR railway banner goes on show after restoration

Grimsby Telegraph

August 13th 2011

A 100-year-old railway banner restored after being found in a state of disrepair has gone on display at Immingham Museum.
The painted silk banner belonging to the New Holland branch of the National Union of Railways (NUR now RMT) was discovered in storage in Doncaster several years ago.

1. ARRIVAL: From left, Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Councillor Sue Pickett, Roger Whyman, Mike Burton, Brian Mummery and Doug Pickett with the banner.

It was restored by a conservator in Leeds with a £5,000 grant acquired by the museum, and it now hangs proudly alongside the other exhibits. Adrian Coggin, treasurer of the museum, said: "It was found in a derelict state and we felt it was too good to let go. It's a big part of this area's railway heritage."

The banner depicts the steam locomotive Sir Sam Fay, named after the Great Central Railway's general manager.

Roger Whyman, chairman of the museum's management committee, said: "The New Holland branch was formed before the NUR was created in 1913 by the amalgamation of three railway unions.
"The records we have been able to find suggest that this banner pre-dates the amalgamation.

"We believe this is the original banner, which was then modified after the amalgamation."

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.

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Mr Derek Bywater says:—

William 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.

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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

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”

Southall ILP Choir 1925

Wanted - A Conductor

The Southall (Middlesex) Independent labour Party (ILP) is very anxious to form a choir, but has nobody in its ranks qualified to take on the duties of conductor. If there is any ILP er in the district is able to assist, will he or she please get in touch with J.M. Cooper, 14 Great George Street, Westminster.

ILP New Leader 23 October 1925

Our History - Notes from the ILP 1925

INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY (ILP) NATIONAL COUNCIL APRIL 1925


Consultation Committee:
Clifford Allen, Roden Buxton, James Maxton MP, R.C. Wallhead MP, Ben Reiley MP, Walter A Ayles, F. W. Jowett, Dorothy Jewson and the secretaries.



New Leader Board
Clifford Allen, Roden Buxton, Ben Riley MP, Walter Ayles, E.E. Hunter, E Sandham, H. N. Brailsford. A. Fenner Brockway and Francis Johnson (Secretary).

Information Committee (NAC Representatives)
Clifford Allen, R.C. Wallhead MP, Fred Longden, P.F. Pollard, R.L. Reiss

Publication Department
Clifford Allen, Roden Buxton, Walter Ayles, E.E. Hunter, E. Sandham, John Scurr, A Fenner Brockway, and Francis Johnson (secretary)

Office Committee
Clifford Allen, Roden Buxton, F. W. Jowett, R.C. Wallhead MP, E. Sandham, and secretaries.

Organising Consultants
Clifford Allen, roden Buxton, Margaret Bondfield, E.E. Hunter, and the Consultants

National Labour Press and Blackfriars Press
Clifford Allen, Roden Buxton, F.W. Jowett, Ben Riley, G. Benson, H. Peach, Harrison Barrow.

Finanace Inquiry
Clifford Allen, F W Pethwick Lawerence MP, E.F. Wise, H. Dalton MP, Clem Attlee MP, Dr Alfred Salter MP, J. Maxton MP, R.C. Wallhead MP, W.T. Symons , Campbell Stephen MP, E.E. Hunter (Secretary) with Fred Tait and P.J. Dollan as corresponding members.

according to the New leader 24th April 1925, One of the features of the ILP life during the past year has been the increased activity of women members

Delegation to the National Labour Party Women's Conference in Birmingham 192

ILP delegetes elected by divisional councils


Yorkshire: Mrs Wallhead Nichol and Miss M. Semple
Midlands: Mrs Borrett and Mrs Perriman
East anglia: Dr Violet Jewson and Mrs Godfrey
London & South: Mrs P. Cusden and Mrs Hookey
Wales: Mrs Moore
Lancashire: Mrs . Moore and Miss May Sandham

National Council also elected
Mrs E. M Lowe
Mrs Bruce Glasier
Miss Minnie Pallister
Miss Dorothy Jewson
Mrs Barton
Mrs Dollan
Mrs Neil Maclean
Mrs Johnson



Women's Advisory Committee
Margaret Bondfield, Dorothy Jewson, Mrs E. M. Lowe, Mrs Bruce Glasier, Minnie Pallister, Mrs Agnes Dollan, Dr Violet Jewson, Mrs E Barton, Mrs Johnson, Mrs Salter, Mrs Shimmin and Mrs Porteous.ILP NOTES October 1925

It was reported that the ILP now had 158 ILP Guild of Youth branches in 1925
(The ILP Guild of Youth had been established in 1924 by 1925 estimated 5,000 members)

Guild News October 1925

Perth ILP Guild of Youth established October 1925. Secretary Andrew Bell, 59 Scott Street, Perth

Swadlincote ILP Guild of Youth weekend school at Matlock next Whitsun in conjunction with Belper and Burton on Trent and Derby Guild of Youth. Speaker Miles Mallenson lecture on "Socialism and Art". Secretary H. Nutt 79 Lower midway nr Burton on trent

Gloucester ILP Guild of Youth have formed an Arts Guild, also ramble and cycle rides every sunday see Mary Stoddart 18 All Saints Road, Gloucester

Bristol Fred Berriman is giving his monthly lecture on "Industrial history". Efforts are being made to get "The Flame" into public libraries. secretary W.E. Brown 12 Greville Street, Southville, Bristol.

Portsmouth ILP League of Youth stands at sixty to seventy. Arrangements have been made for the Flame to be placed in local libraries. The Dramatic Class is working hard to produce "Miles Malleson's Young Heaven at a "Kier Hardie" concert to be held in November. the Literary and Debating Class opened with a debate on "Communism". Secretary T.J. Farnes 16 Woodland Street, Kingston, Portsmouth.

London Central ILP has decided to create a Socialist Forum for the purposes of bringing together active workers in London for weekly discussion of important problems of socialist thought and policy. Meeting at Emerson Club 14 Great George street Secretary F.G. Stone 12 Colville gardens W11

Gillingham ILP
Richard Rees the famous baronet and son of former Midlands Tory anti- socialist MP (Nottingham east 1912-1922) has been selected as ILP candidate for Gillingham

Update:- Sir Richard Rees He worked for the WEA and later drove a ambulance in Catalonia, Spain

Windermere Labour Party Victory 1925
It was reported that incredibly a Labour candidate had been elected to the local council at Windermere by a majority of one and that Reg Burnett (ILP candidate for Westmorland) was very pleased (This probably represented Labour's first victory in Windermere, Cumberland) . "his enterprise and thoroughness are illustrated by the manner he spent his holiday in August. he tramped from village to village, called at every cottage, and held meetings at night - often acting as his own chairman. at the end of the meeting he asked for someone in the audiance to offer him hospitality for the night - and he always got it!" 23 October 1925

Reginald Burnett (ILP) is making a reputation in the North. He has a fine personality. He was the candidate in Westmorland at the last election. and is prospective candidate again.

Devon ILP Federation
Summer propaganda programme commenced in May with a weeks tour by Minnie Pallister and ended i September with a series of meetings addressed by Fred Brenan

Gateshead ILP
Gateshead Clarion Choir at Coxlodge, Gosforth & Dist ILP speaker H W MacIntyre

Loughton ILP (Essex)
Speaker Seymour Cocks. during the summer months this small village branch has co-operated with the Federation in outdoor propaganda. Secretary Norman Henderson, Nimrod, Station Road, Loughton, Essex.

Southall ILP Choir
Advert in the ILP New Leader 23 October 1925 Southal ILP is very anxious to form a choir, but has nobody to take on the duties of conductor please contact J.M. Cooper 14, Great George Street, Westminster


Independent Labour Party - The Flame
The Flame was the journal of the Independent Labour Party, Guild of Youth (ILP)


Margaret McMillan noted
"The Independent Labour Party was not formed to champion women.It was born to make War on capitalism and competition"

page 131 The life of Rachel McMillan by Margaret McMillan

AESD Draughtsmen Union Banner 1949

Trade Union banner of the Association of Engineering & Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (AESD), May day Glasgow 1949

AESD Established 21st May 1913, Clydeside, Glasgow, Scotland by William Herd



AESD OFFICERS 1949 No1 Scotland

AESD Regional Secretary T. Mc Lennan 224 Archerhill Road, Glasgow, Scotland

Aberdeen—K. H. BROWN, 15 Redmoss Gardens, Nigg, Aberdeen
Angus—W. A. SIMPSON, 94 Ancrum Drive, Dundee
Clydebank—V. GIBB, 16 Plane Tree Road, Dalmuir, Glasgow.
Dumbarton—J. W. THACKERY, 12 Bruce Street, Dumbarton.
Edinburgh—G. M. ROBERTSON, 1 Fillyside Avenue, Edinburgh 7
Fife—F. BEATTIE, 63 Galloway Terrace, Wellesley Road, Methil, Fife
Glasgow East—G. CAPLAN, 27 Bolivar Terrace, Glasgow, S.2.
Glasgow North—J. P. DAVIES, 4 Hathaway Street, Glasgow, N.W.
Glasgow South—J. DREKNAN, 40 Crookston Place, Glasgow, S.W.2.
Glasgow South-West—A. MCDONALD, 275 Crow Road, Glasgow, W 1
Glasgow West—J. CAMERON, 2 Napiershall Street, Glasgow NW
Greenock—R. WILLIAMSON, 37 Dempster Street, Greenock.
Hillington—T. N. KIKKE, 25 Harley Street, Glasgow, S.W.I.
Kllmarnock—R. OSMAN, 19 Langside Avenue, Shortlees, Kilmarnock.
Motherwell—Miss A. McCALL, 12 Glenbum Terrace, Carfln, Motherwell
Paisley—J. McLEOD, 17 Princess Crescent, Paisley.
Renfrew—W. MILLER, 16 Dunn Street, Paisley.
Scotland Central—WM. MARTIN, Birch Cottage, Ochil Street, AUoa, Clackmannanshire.
Solway—G. LANGHORNE, 9 Lediard Avenue, Currock, Carlisle.
West Cumberland—E. COATES, 4 Dalton Street, The Moor, Cockermouth Cumberland
Executive Member -T. SHAW- 789 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

AESD Clyde Area Study Circle meetings at highland Insitute, Glasgow Chairman Mr T. McLennam key organiser Convenor Hugh McQuiston (21 years up to 1949) and treasurer Miss Annie Fitzsimons. Other officers Mr Alex, Finlay, Motherwell Branch and fergus Reid Glasgow South branch

FORMATION OF THE AESD DRAUGHTSMEN UNION

The AESD was established on Wednesday 21st May 1913 at 158 West Regent Street, Glasgow, with William Herd (draughtsman at John Brown's shipyard) the key speaker.

The first Glasgow branch included James Young, George Thomson, Archie MacKellar and W. C. Keay

Young, Thomson and MacKellar became AESD union officals, W C Keay joined the association a few weeks after formation, the first member from outside shipbuilding. Keay became General secretary of the federation of professional Workers for nine years.

William Herd AESD died in the nineteen-twenties

GEORGE WALKER THOMSON

George Thomson died in Birmingham on Thursday 7th July 1949; so passed on one of the outstanding personalities of the Association of Enginnering & Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (A.E.S.D)., and a man who had attained to the highest honour which the trade union movement can bestow, namely, president of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The outstanding characteristic of George Thomson was his integrity and honesty of purpose, a man who would always do what was right, irrespective of the possible personal con-sequences. He was a man it was an honour to count as a friend, and we were colleagues and close friends for over thirty years.

He was a native of Glasgow, Scotland educated at Allan Glen’s school in that city. He started his industrial career as a wood carver and modeller and he attended the Glasgow School of Art for two years under a bursary which he had won. He did not continue this vocation but switched to engineering, serving his apprenticeship with Ross & Duncan, a marine engineering firm.

His father, a chief engineer, was for some time in charge of a fleet of trawlers and. as a youngster George frequently sailed with the fishing fleet and there learned the difficult life which those engaged in the occupation have to undergo. Whether this experience was responsible for his change of occupation, I cannot say. Whilst serving his apprenticeship he attended classes at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, gaining the diploma of the College, and on completion of his apprenticeship was for a considerable time in the Preston area employed as a draughtsman. He then returned to Glasgow where he became the leading boiler draughtsman with Barclay Curie & Co., and was so employed until he became full-time editor of The Draughtsman in June, 1920.

His introduction to the socialist and Labour movement took place whilst he was attending the Glasgow School of Art. One of his two friends who were also attending the school had obtained some early socialist pamphlets and all three soon became interested and active members of the movement. Later, his two friends became Labour councillors in the city of Glasgow, while George subsequently became active in the industrial side of the movement. In his late ‘teens and early twenties he was active in the Clarion Scouts and was for a considerable period the general secretary of the Glasgow branch.

I first met George Thomson at an A.E.S.D. general meeting in 1916, when he played an active part in defeating a proposal to try to get the Association accepted as an approved society. It was not until a year later that I came into close contact with him. He, together with Peter Doig and Archie Mac-Kellar, came on to the executive committee of the Association in the early autumn of 1917, the E.C. at that time being drawn from the membership residing in and around Glasgow. It was then discovered that Doig and Thomson had been in the same class at Alien Glen’s.

During the 1914-1918 war, the New Age, under Orage, was advocating guild socialism and George Thomson, together with a number of other socialists in the west of Scotland, became interested. Later, three of them became responsible for the editorship of The Guildsman, a publication run by the Glasgow branch of the National Guilds League, which was an active organisation during and after the 1914-1918 war. His two colleagues were John Paton, a shop steward of the A.S.E., and. Edwin Muir, the well-known essayist, then a clerk in a Renfrew shipyard. His knowledge and activity in connection with this publication resulted in his being appointed towards the end of 1917, as the convener of the A.E.S.D.

Publications and Propaganda Committee In 1918, the Executive Committee decided to revive The Draughtsman, two issues of which had previously been published. George was appointed, honorary editor, with the undersigned in charge of the business side. The editorial committee consisted of George Thomson, Willie Herd (who has rightly been given the credit of forming the Association (AESD) ), D. Clark and the under-signed (James Young). Although politically. Herd and Thomson were poles apart, they became very firm friends. This, indeed, was another characteristic of George Thomson ; his ability to make firm friendships even with people with whom he was frequently in strenuous opposition. For two years he carried on the editorship of The Draughtsman, which was published every two months, whilst working as a draughtsman during the day. At the beginning of 1920 when I became assistant general secretary, George Thomson took over the complete responsibility for The Draughtsman.

In those days the paper was sold to the members and at the 1919, December, conference, when making my report on the business side of the paper I directed attention to the fact that if the paper was published monthly, it could easily support a full-time editor. This suggestion was seized on by the then general treasurer and at the next meeting of the Representative Council, held in the middle of 1920, conference decided that The Draughts-man should be issued monthly and George Thomson was offered the full-time editorship, which he accepted, and which he occupied with distinction until he retired about a year ago.

In the first Notes in The Draughtsman he stated. :—“We conceive the chief function of this journal to be that of acting as a weather cone to the Association to indicate to the best of our ability where the real storm centres are, to provide a platform of our own for the discussion of our own peculiar problems, and to assert the Association’s will forcibly and with what power of thought and language we can command.” A study of The Draughtsman during the thirty years he was responsible for its editorship will clearly demonstrate that he was faithful to the principles he set out in his first Notes. He received severe criticism from many quarters, some from the right and some from the left, but he continued to express the views which he personally considered were correct, irres-pective of the criticism of others.

His work in the Association is well known. Outside the Association he occupied many important posts in the trade union movement. He was elected to the General Council of the T.U.C. in 1935 and became chairman of. the General Council and presided over the 1947 Congress. His work during that year undoubtedly took a heavy toll on his physique.

He took a prominent part in the work of the National Federation of Professional Workers, and during his lifetime he was honorary secretary of the Science Advisory Committee of the Labour Party. He was elected chairman of the tech-nical section of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical and Technical Employees and acted as the represen-tative of the T.U.C. at many conferences in connection with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) both in Europe and America.

During his career he had many tempting offers to leave the movement and undoubtedly he would have been a success in any sphere he chose to enter, but he felt that his rightful job was to serve the movement and the membership of the A.E.S.D. in particular. This he has done faithfully and the membership, both past and present, mourn the loss of one of the outstanding figures. thrown up from the drawing offices in this country. Our sympathy goes out to his wife and son at the present time.

James Young

The Draughtsman August 1949

EXTRA NOTES

1949 AESD Draughtsmen Union - Branches West London

Southall AESD J.F. Goodyer 9 Chatsworth Road, Yeading, Hayes

Acton AESD V. F. Colle 55 Muriel Street, Islington

Ealing AESD Miss D.E. Bareham 35 Northfield Avenue, West Ealing

Wembley North AESD D.W. Fairwater 80 uppingham Avenue, Stanmore

Wembley South F. Holmes 49 Chartley Avenue, Neasden NW2

London West AESD K.T. McKenzie 33 Cedar Road, London NW2

London West Central AESD R.H. Smith 424 London Road, West Croydon

London North West AESD C.S. Heiht 89 Vallance Road Bethnal Green E1

Slough AESD C.S. Brown "Bartletts" Wymers Wood Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire

Southall AESD Draughtsmen union branch established 1948 (included members at AEC Southall)

Southall AESD Secretary J.F. Goodyer and Chairman Mr MaCullam

* AESD very active at Fairy Aviation but not sure if Southall or West London branch

Belfast North AESD Draughtsmen Union branch established a "Mixed Voice Choir" in Autumn 1949 and won remarkable sucess in its short period of existence, it won second place at the Belfast Musical festival and at Coleraine Musical Festival(Mr J Duncan - Secretary)

AESD later DATA later TASS later MSF later Unite

LAND NATIONALISATION SOCIETY

The Pioneer Yellow Lecture Van of the Land Nationalisation Society visited Southall in July 1905, a good attendance was present for the lecture on the objective of the Society.

The Society was founded by Alfred Russell Wallace in March 1881, its journal was the "Land and Labour".

Alfred Wallace is best known as the codiscoverer, with Charles Darwin, of evolution by natural selection.

Alfred Russell Wallace was born on 23rd January 1823 at Usk, Wales and died on 7th November 1913 at the Old Orchard, Broadstone, Wimborne, Dorset. (picture below)

Propositions of this Society in 1882 were agreed as-

1.Unrestricted private property in land is inherently wrong, and leads to grievous and wide-spread evils.

2. In order that the land of the country may be free for the enjoyment of all its citizens to the fullest extent compatible with the well-being of the community, the following principles should be embodied in law:--The land alone in its inherent value, as dependent on natural conditions, means of communication, nearness to markets, is to become the property of the State; the houses, buildings, private roads, improvements, the property of the owner, and constitute his tenant-right. All land whatever must be held direct from the State, and solely for the personal use and enjoyment of the occupier; complete freedom in the choice of a home, and ample space whereon to build a dwelling-house, would be the greatest boon to the community, and are essential to the wealth and happiness of its individual members

3. In order that the community may reap the full benefit of the proposed system of land tenure as soon as possible, it is essential that the entire interest in the land of the country (as distinguished from tenant-right) should pass to the State by means of a general law, securing to all existing landowners and their heirs revenues equal to the annual value of the land apart from the tenant right."

William Gladstone (Speech at West Calder.)

"In my opinion, if it is known to be for the welfare of the community at large, the Legislature is perfectly entitled to buy out the landed proprietors. . . . Those persons who possess large portions of the earth's space are not altogether in the same position as the possessors of mere personalty.

Personalty does not impose limitations on the action and the industry of man and the well-being of the community as possession of land does, and therefore, I freely own that compulsory expropriation is admissible, and even sound in principle." -


Marx, Lenin and Adam Smith on land

Theories of Surplus Value, Marx reveals the “essence of different theories of rent”: the theory of the monopoly price of agricultural produce and the theory of differential rent. He shows what is true in both those theories, insofar as absolute rent contains an element of monopoly. Concerning Adam Smith’s theory: “it is quite true” that rent is monopoly price, insofar as the private ownership of land prevents the levelling of profit. by fixing profit at a level higher than the average.—Lenin

National Union of Railwaymen

The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (ASRS), later National Union of Railwaymen now called Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) was established on the 26^th August 1871 by a group of railwaymen who meet in Leeds, within a further two weeks meetings were held in London which enthusiastically endorsed the launching of the union. On March 2^nd 1872 its rules were finally registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Its first Annual General Meeting was held on June 24^th, 1872 in the Sussex Hotel, Bouverie Street, London and within twelve months of formation had 17,000 members.

The first railwaymen to join in West Middlesex were platelayers (Platelayers Union) in West Middlesex were those working as platelayers between Acton and Slough along the Great Western Railway track earning in 1889 just 18 shillings a week. (photo rail track workers 1908)

Mr W.J. O’Brien of Acton stated they were engaged as platelayers on the line and “upon their skill depended the security of travelers and the rolling stock of the company”, and they demanded 21 shillings per week.

As early as 1897 branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (ASRS) had been established in Southall and Barnes, which meet on occasions together. (Southall Platelayers Union active from 1889).

At a meeting in November 1897 at the Coffee Tavern, Brentford, Mr Kates of Barnes ASRS introduced a Mr F. Kitley who explained about the principles of trade unionism and congratulated them on such a large attendance. He also referred to the treatment of staff working for the L&SW Railway when they had approached management, he said “the time had come for a united movement of all grades of railwaymen through the ASRS”.

At the same meeting Mr J. Mitchell Platelayers delegate to the recent Birmingham conference gave a resume of the proceedings , he said they had passed a resolution instructing the general secretary of the ASRS to write to several railway companies offering arbitration upon the national programme, meanwhile notices were to be prepared and signed by the men, with a view to handing them in to the companies of favourable replies were not forthcoming by a given date.

A Mr G.B. Whitby proposed the following resolution “That this meeting consisting of all grades of railway men employed on the line running into Brentford having heard the decision of the Birmingham conference pledge itself to support the ASRS.

In 1898 the Amalgamated Society of Railway servants meet at the De Burgh arms in West Drayton

(Picture ASRS Rickmondsworth,Hertfordshire 1912 first banner ASRS Neasden)

1911 RAIL STRIKE

During the 18^th -19^th August 1911 transport strike, over 200,000 railwaymen were on strike, paralysing West Middlesex.

Members in Southall, like all other branches of the union received the following telegram “Your liberty at stake all railwaymen must strike at once, loyalty to each

other means victory” signed by four rail union General Secretary’s J.E. Williams (ASRS), Fox, Louth and Chorlton.

According to the local Gazette the cry “they’re out “ the words flew from mouth to mouth

The local leader of the railwaymen was the imposing Councillor James Culley of Southall

The Southall railwaymens strike headquarters was at the Co-operative Hall, Kings Street, Southall at which a meeting of over one hundred assembled at 8:00 to discuss the strike but by 7:45 th

en already most men were on strike (I believe this was the evening of 17^th August). According to the local paper the meeting was full of enthusiasm and determination was writ large on the face of each of the hundred or more men present. One of the local rail union leaders stated

“They recognised the responsibility the immense amount of

inconvience and suffering to women and children that would happen should the strike be prolonged. But the companies and the autocratic methods and the non-recognition of their societies were responsible entirely for the present state of affairs. All kinds pf obstacles had been placed in the way to prevent the working of the Consolidation Boards”.

The meeting of Southall railwaymen carried the following resolution unanimously “That this meeting of railwaymen representing all grades heartily appreciates the action of our Executives in calling upon us at last to secure recognition of our Societies and pledge ourselves to faithfully abide by the decisions of those said Executives”

Before the meeting broke up the leaders appealed to the men not to do anything disorderly they had said the picket secretary had a reputation to uphold and wished to keep their hands clean, if the solders were called in they were to treat them as brothers.

All but two signalmen in Southall came out on strike, the two signalmen were place in two signal boxes one in the east signal box and one in west. The pickets furious at the “scabs” entered the box and turned off the lights preventing the men from working, the signalmen refused to move and the strikers with no desire to use violence, endeavored to persuade signalmen to strike (picture signal box 1911 strike sStockinford)

The pickets then established picket lines at various entrances to Southall station and sheds and large numbers of people assembled on the Southall railway bridge and also the iron bridge to look for “scab trains”. Scab workers often being reward not only in generous payments from management but also donations from passengers estimated at £10 a time to drive/work trains.

A movement was a foot to raise a special volunteer (a forerunner of the 1926 strike breaking Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies -OMS) force to take duty on the railway lines in the immediate neighborhood.

Amongst the loco drivers (ASLEF) the strike was also solid , one striker stating “I am a socialist and proud of it ”15 working out of 570 between Slough only two and Paddington.

Southall was described by the local paper as being in a great sense of excitement and ferment, with other local employers voluntarily raising wages as the strike wave swept London, outside the epicenter of Transport.

The local Uxbridge paper reported tat “A well known local factory owner had an unpleasant experience on Friday, he had driven in a motor car to a certain strike infested area of South East London to collect certain articles loaned but the crowd which gathered made such a dire threats about overturning the car if he persisted in his businesses he drove off “.

In Southall it was stated the police were are taking all necessary precautions against untoward events and for this purpose about 100-150 specials” constables have been raised in Uxbridge.

Police were placed on guard and several stationed on the Southall bridges and the local paper claimed “possible” incendiary devices were discovered at Southall and attributed to the strikers.

Elsewhere, in the country there was also turmoil, In Llanelli, South Wales two innocent young men, namely Leonard Worsell and John John, who were shot down by soldiers on 18^th August 1911 during the Railway Riots in Llanelli 17^th and 18^th August 1911.

Meanwhile in Liverpool gunboats were anchored in the Mersey and 3,000 troops and several hundred police swamped the city during the 72 day City wide Transport strike. Two more innocent strikers Michael Prendergast and John Sutcliffe were killed by soldiers on the 15^th August

Meanwhile in Liverpool during the 72 day City wide Transport strike (including 15,000 railwaymen) which started on 5^th August, two more innocent strikers Michael Prendergast and John Sutcliffe had been killed on the 15^th August by soldiers.

The deaths murder of innocent strikers could not sway one prominent local resident, the Vicar of Harefield the Rev A.A. Harland stated in August 1911 that “All these strikes had been ruthlessly conducted against law and order….. The police, the custodians of public safety had been cruelly maltreated by rioting mobs of so called hooligans and the solders who had suddenly been called out to protect life and property and assist the police in the discharge pf their duties had been compelled much against their will to fire upon the more violent and savage wrongdoers”

Despite the railway companies being well prepared and confident prior to the strike and direct government intervention with the extensive use of the army and police. The Railway Companies were forced into meeting union representatives, the first great rail strike being terminated on the 19^th August 1911. The outcome was a new Conciliation Scheme and union recognition.

One legacy of the strike was the move towards the amalgamation of rail unions. The three main “general” unions, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, The United Pointsmen & Signalmen’s Society and the General Railway Workers Union agreing to amalgamate and this was completed on the 23^rd August 1913 becoming the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and by 1915 the new union had 267,611 members.

1919 RAIL STRIKE

The second national Railwaymen’s strike took place at midnight on the 26^th September 1919 primarily over the issue consolidation of war bonuses of 33 shillings. The strike being settled with the intervention of Downing Street on the 5^th October 1919 (pictiure Soldier at Slough 1919)

When the Hayes branch established 1922, a Mr W.T. Pollard of Hayes recalled he had walked many miles to attend branch meetings and that he had been a member since March 1900 “They had to fight in the dark and dare not come out into the open but they got things done”

A Southall Railway Women’s Guild was established by wives of husbands in the NUR by B (Barbara?) A. Chard the wife of a Southall signalman, also involved in the Women’s Railway Guild was Mrs Nottingham. (pictire WW1 women rail worker)

1926 GENERAL STRIKE

The third national rail strike took place during the General Strike in 1926 (3^rd-12^th May 1926)

1962 BEECHING STRIKE

The next (fourth) national rail strike was not called until thirty six years later in 1962, when faced with the Beeching Plans proposals to the closure of large sections of the rail network, stations and workshops. The NUR organised 189 meetings opposing the proposals and organised a strike on the 3^rd October 1962, This strike secured widespread public support. The union winning a number of concessions to the redundancy agreements

1968 WORK TO RULE

In 1968 the National Union of railwaymen opted for a work to rule which was conducted between the 24^th June and5th July 1968 over the issue of pay.

1989 ONE DAY STRIKES

The National Union of Railway under the excellent leadership of Jimmy Knapp conducted a series of six one day strikes in July/July 1989 which secured high levels of public support.

LOCAL NOTES

Mrs B.A. CHARD

Councillor Mrs B (Barbara) A Chard came to Southall in 1898, helped found the Women’s Co-operative Guild and the Women’s Railway (Union) Guild.

During the World War 1 she helped women munitions workers, in groups of up to eighty to find accommodation in Hayes and

Southall area.

Elected as Southall Labour Councillor in 1919 and onto the Board of Guardians, became Chairman of Southall Urban District Council in 1926

Mr Albert J Chard was her husband, also a Labour JP a railway guard

Positive this is Barbara Chard born in 1872 at Cardigan, Wales aged 29 at 1901 census

NOTES

Hayes National Union of Railwaymen's branch established in 1922. At Hayes their was a railway estate built for workers on the Great Western Railway and a Mr Doubbley was the leader of the West Drayton/Uxbridge National Union of Railwaymen who played a key role during the 1926 General strike. In the 1940’s a Mr Slade was the active in Hayes Trades Council

In January 1929 a Rail Minority Movement (Communist Party) was established with branches from Perth, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby, Keig

hley, Birmingham, London and Exeter represented. Soon prominent members of the RMM were elected into senior branch roles in Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby and Leytonstone. The RMM also had an important group as Stratford, London's largest rail cleaning and repair depot.

Mr W.C. Loeber (NUR) being important leader of rank and file railwaymen, he was a carriage cleaner from Hornsey. He joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in 1912 and by 1924 was Chairman of the Wood Green & Hornsey branch of the NUR. NUR Executive member 1938-1940. Close friend of Harry Pollitt, Loeber was a Communist Party member and national executive member. He retired from the Railway's aged 65 in 1956. "He saw the Minority Movement as the only way to prevent a decline in working class conditions, and the Communist Party as the only way to bring Socialism nearer (The Railway Vigilant September 1932)

Newsletters included "The Signal (Manchester), Hornsey Star, The LMS Rebel and Kings Cross Star.

The Railway Minority Movement merged with the Railway Vigilance Movement (named after the Vigilance Committee's established during WW1. (and various Railway Vigilance Committees had continued after the war)

At the first conference of the Railway Vigilance Committee held on 3rd December 1932 with 35 NUR branches, 31 ASLEF and 18 Depot committees represented

The objective of the Railway Vigilance Committee was....."a movement organised in the local depots and branches and embracing all workers irrespective of grade or union division.....(which)..... can be a most powerful means of defeating the wage cuts demands of the companies


Its newspaper "The Railway Vigilant" appeared in November in November 1932 and circulation peaked at around 12,000