November 14th, 1917

Minutes of EC meeting held on November 14 at 3.00 pm.

Members present:-Miss Emily Cox (chair), Mrs Findlay, Mrs. Ashwell Cooke, Mrs. Withington, Mr. Herford, Mr. G .V. Cox

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted.

Arising out of minutes it was reported that £30.00 had been sent to Mr. Purcell towards the Furnishing Trades strike fund.

The Secretary reported that the jumble sale had realised £7.12.6. There was also £1.00 in hand for goods left over from the Joint Committee jumble sale and handed over to the WTUC. The Secretary said that there was an account of £1.10.0 owing by the Joint Committee to the William Morris Press, and that there was no money in hand to pay this. It was moved by Mr. Herford, seconded by Mrs. Findlay and agreed that under the circumstances the £1 be added to the jumble sale receipts making a total of £8.12.6., and that the council pay the account for 30/-owing.

The Treasurer presented the financial statement for the month.

It was reported that the joint meeting of Trade Unions, Co-operative Societies, the Trade and Labour Council Executive, and the WTUC had been held on November 4th in the Milton Hall. Miss Emily Cox was in the chair and explained that the meeting has been called to consider the financial position of the Council and to see if some agreement could be arrived at whereby the finances could be put on a more permanent basis. The financial report for the year 1917 was given by Mr. Herford. A full discussion took place on the work and objects of the Council and it was decided that a Committee be appointed to consider ways and means of helping the Council out of its present financial difficulties, and then to draw up a scheme to be brought before a further meeting. Nine members were elected from the meeting to sit on the Committee, and it was decided that 3 should be appointed from the Executive of the Trades and Labour Council and 3 from the Executive of WTUC. The election of the three members then took place, and it was moved by Mrs. Cox, seconded by Mrs. Withington and agreed that Miss Emily Cox, Miss Ashton and Mrs. Findlay act as the Council’s representatives on the Committee. It was moved by Mr. Cox, seconded by Mr. Herford and agreed that Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Withington act as substitutes in the event of any WTUC member being unable to be present.

A discussion took place on the action of the Nomination Committee in excluding Miss Ashton from the Education Committee, after the valuable work she had done while a member. It was decided to send a resolution of protest, and the chairman was empowered to draw up a resolution and forward it to Sir Thomas Shawn.

This resolution was included in the Minutes on a separate piece of paper.

Resolution November 14 1917

“That the Women’s Trade Union Council, valuing liberty of conscience and freedom of speech, wishes to protest most strongly against the exclusion of Councillor Margaret Ashton from the Manchester Education Committee this exclusion being admittedly on account of her views expressed upon questions in no way concerned with educational matters. Miss Ashton’s services on the cause of education are known to all Manchester citizens: especially  her efforts to secure better training of girls for their domestic and industrial work ???           have been warmly appreciated by  women workers, and the Council desires to record its opinion that a serious injury has been inflicted upon those girls now in Manchester schools who will shortly become industrial workers, by depriving them of the advantage of Miss Ashton’s expert knowledge and unflagging enthusiasm to promote their interests.”

 Correspondence. A letter was read from the Council of Girls Clubs asking the Council to suggest names of speakers for a syllabus of lectures. The Secretary and chairman were asked to take the matter in hand and to forward any names of suitable speakers.

A letter was read from Miss MacArthur saying that the National Federation of Women Workers and other organisations were going in for an advance of 10/-per week for all women working on munitions.

The Sub-Committee minutes were read. A meeting had been held with Messrs. Kay’s, Bolton, but as no agreement could be arrived at the matter had now gone forward for arbitration.

The case at Gerrard’s, Swinton, was also awaiting arbitration.

As no headway had been made with the case with Birtles and Tate, the matter had been reported to the Federation.

Miss Quaile had addressed a meeting of the Fallowfield branch of the A.S.E. on women’s trade unionism, and as most of the members worked at Hans Renolds they had promised to give assistance in organising the women.

Emily Cox December 12, 1917.