January 10th, 1912

Council Meeting held Wednesday, January 10th 1912 at 3.00 PM

Attendance.

Present Miss Emily Cox (chair), Mrs. J. J. Findlay, Mrs. Anott Robinson, Rev. C. T. Campion, Mr. Graeme Cox, Miss P. Todd, Miss Maggie Hall, Miss Mary Quaile, Mrs. O. M. Aldridge.

Apologies. Apologies for absence received from Mr. Hugh V. Herford, Miss Florence Spencer, Councillor James Johnston and Miss L. Stapleton.

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

Annual Meeting. It was reported that the Annual Meeting would be held on February 13th. Mrs. Despard had kindly consented to speak.

Special Meeting. It was agreed on a motion of Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Findlay that a special meeting be held on Wednesday afternoon January 31st to consider the draft copy of the Annual Report and that no February meeting take place unless found necessary at the time.  

Women Shop Assistants. It was reported that the Women Shop Assistants had accepted the invitation to affiliate with the Council and had nominated Miss Florence Spear as their representative.

Mrs. Anott Robinson. Mrs. Anott Robinson had also consented to join the Council.

Bradford Flax Mill Dispute. It was reported that Sir George Askwith had arranged a conference re-the Bradford Flax Mill dispute on Friday the 12th instant. The directors would meet the Union officials and Sir George Askwith would be in the chair. The dispute had lasted thirteen weeks.

Corset Makers Lockout. It was also reported that a lockout of 300 corset makers had occurred at Messrs. Blair’s works on January 4th. A new storey had been added to the building and with the opening of these two rooms numbers four and six had been put together in one large new room. Prices and work had varied in the two rooms and now it was proposed to make a readjustment and make two prices cover three lines of work in place of three separate prices. This readjustment on the plan proposed by the management the Union found would work out very much to the disadvantage of the strippers and they were accordingly advised not to agree to the new arrangement. The Manager then locked out to the stitchers as well as the strippers and work was at a standstill for two days. At the close of the second day the Management conceded the demands of the Union and readjusted prices on the plan proposed by them. The result was to give the strippers an advance on several lines of work in place of the reduction and also an extra three pence on one line of work to the stitchers. In securing this advance the women would secure a share of the increase production rendered possible with the new machines.

Emily Cox March 13th 1912