June 11th, 1913

Council Meeting held Wednesday, June 11th 1913 at 3.00 pm.

Attendance.

Present Miss Emily Cox, Mrs. Ashwell Cooke, Miss Woolley, Mr. Edward Dale, Mr. H. V. Herford (chair), Miss Guffick, Miss Quaile.

Apologies. Apologies for absence submitted from Mrs. C. J. Spence and Mr. G. V. Cox.

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

Finance. The monthly financial statement was given by the Treasurer.

National Federation of Women Workers re-Trades Union Congress. Correspondence was read from Miss MacArthur of the National Federation of Women Workers asking the Council to cooperate with the Federation in holding a demonstration during the September week the Trades Union Congress meet in Manchester. Miss Cox moved and Mr. Herford seconded that a letter be written to Miss MacArthur offering the services of the Council.

Patchwork Quilts. The Chairman reported that Mr. Phillip M. Oliver had written asking for information in connection with workers making patchwork quilts. A canvass had been made among women employed in this work and wages and conditions of such employment obtained and forwarded to Mr. Oliver. Mr. Oliver wrote further expressing his willingness to become a member of the Council, it was moved by Mrs. Ashwell Cooke seconded by Mr. Herford that Mr. Oliver be invited to join the Council.

Mr. G. V. Cox appointed to Sub Committee. The Chairman reported on the work dealt with by the Sub-Committee. The appointment of Mr. G.V. Cox as a member of the Sub-Committee was confirmed on the motion of Mr. Herford seconded by Miss Woolley.

Sheffield Leather Workers. It was reported that Mrs. Aldridge had interviewed the directors of Messrs. Dewsnap & Co. Leather works, Sheffield on May 22nd and had a further interview on June 2nd in relation to the claim sent in by the Sheffield branch of the Women’s Fancy Leather Workers Society. A compromise had been arrived at, arranging a further conference in January of next year, to give the firm time to re-adjust their selling prices, this was agreed to on condition that in cases where the wages were very low, that these individual claims be met immediately.

Dispute in Engraving to Calico Printing Trade. Painters involved. It was reported that a dispute in the Engraving to Calico Printing Trade had arisen. The men in this trade were handing in their notices on Wednesday June 11th and were persuading the women engaged as painters to do likewise. A meeting of the women had been held on June 9th and representatives of the Council present at that meeting could not advise the women one way or the other in regard to handing in their notices, only three days’ notice had been given to the women to decide upon their course of action. The Councils’ representatives did not feel justified in calling a sympathetic strike and left it for the women to decide among themselves. The Engravers’ Union had promised financial help to anyone coming out to support them during the strike period.

Painters Increased Membership. It was reported that thirty nine new members had joined the Painters’ Union.

Hugh V. Herford Chairman July 9th 1913.