July 13th, 1910

Council Meeting held Wednesday July 13th 1910 at 7 o’clock.

Attendance.

Present Miss Emily Cox (Chair), Mrs. Ashwell Cooke, Mrs. J. J. Findlay, Mrs. Whittaker, Miss Guffick (Corsets), Miss Hudson (Clothiers), Miss Francis (Upholsteresses),  Miss Hall (Cigarettes), Miss Smith (Box Makers), Miss Quaile (Waitresses), Mr. Ed Dale, Mr. H.V. Roe, Mrs. O. M. Aldridge.

Apologies. Apologies for absence submitted from Miss Margaret Ashton and Mr. H. V. Herford.

Minutes. Minutes of the last meeting were read and passed.

Finance. The month’s financial statement was presented by the Secretary owing to the absence of the Treasurer.

Building Trades Dispute. Boycott of Belle Vue. A letter was read from the Building Trades Federation saying they had been unable to secure trade union rates of wages for the men employed at Belle Vue and asking the Council to make this known.

Mrs Tawney. A letter was also read from Mrs. Tawney accepting the invitation to join the Council.

Sub Committee Minutes. The Minutes of the Sub Committee were read.  

Sheffield Leather Workers. It was reported that Mrs. Aldridge and Miss Stapleton visited Sheffield on July 11th and had another interview with Messrs. Dewsnap & Company. The firm were still determined to enforce a piece work system. A meeting of all the workers followed the interview and again the unanimous vote was taken to resist the change and a letter was sent to the firm giving the reasons.

Clothiers’ Union re Trade Board. It was also reported that the Manchester Branch of the Amalgamated Union of Clothiers’ Operatives had asked permission to nominate Mrs. Aldridge as the representative of the Homeworkers in their trade on the Trade Board. Mrs. Aldridge had accepted subject to the Council’s consent. Miss Cox moved and Mrs. Cooke seconded that consent be given.

Demonstration at Alexandra Park. It was reported that preliminary step had been taken by the Chairman and Secretary to arrange a Women’s Trade Union Demonstration at Alexandra Park on the afternoon of Saturday August 13th. The Joint Committee had been approached and the cooperation of the Men’s and Women’s Trades and Labour Councils secured.  

It had been felt that much serious delay would have been caused in waiting for a Council meeting before taking these steps. Mrs. Cooke moved and Mrs. Findlay seconded a motion endorsing the action of the Chairman and Secretary. It was reported that the cost of the demonstration would be born equally by the three Councils.

Emily Cox
August 10th 1910