Page 220 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

The Story of the C.W.S.

Under the chairmanship of J. T. W. Mitchell, and in the presence
of Alderman Kempson, then Mayor of Leicester, the Mayor-elect,
Sir James \Vhitehead, Alderman (afterwards Sir Thomas) Wright,
Messrs. ShiUito, Maxwell, Nealc, Gray, and others, the new building
was opened on November 4th, 1891, by Mr. T. Hind, of the C.W.S.
Committee, and at that time a member of the Leicester Town
Council. The C.W.S. output of boots and shoes from Leicester had
now passed the million pairs yearly, but the new hall of industry
provided for more than twice that number. As the factory got into
working operation the number of employees doubled, jumping up to
over 2,200. With the larger scale of operations the quarterly profits
rose occasionally to over £4,000, but occasionally, also, were
chequered by three-figure losses. One effect of the big works was to
break down the primitive idea of quarterly stocktakings. Half-\'early
reckonings were instituted at Leicester " as an experiment " in 1893,
and ultimately became a universal rule. The C.W.S. rarely parts
with premises once acquired, and the West End Works, being used
for making small shoes, and boxes for boots and shoes, remained,
with the Enderby factory, as supplementary places of manufact ure.
The Leicester development was attended by other results. Two
strikes took place, one in 1886, the other in 1892. Both had a
startling effect upon the co-operative mind. The 1886 dispute was
not the first in C.W.S. history, having been preceded by the irregular
and unsupported stoppage at Heckmondwike, but it was magnified
in the controversies of the time until it seemed unprecedented. Yet
it was no great matter. It centred entirely upon whether work had
been sent from Leicester to Enderby at prices below the Leicester
rates, and upon whether Enderby workers had thus been put in
competition with Leicester. Mr. Butcher in the first instance met
the riveters and finishers who alone were concerned, and in proof of
good faith offered to send the Leicester list to Enderby to be paid
from, and this was accepted as satisfactory. Afterwards a question
arose of deductions for carting to and from Enderby, and while this
—
was in course of settlement the strike took place " without any
further complaint or notice." It was announced at Manchester only
by telegram, on September 22nd. On October 2nd the C.W.S.
Committee met the workers' representatives, and the strike
terminated on October 5th. Controversy ranged over six months
more, however, at the C.W.S. Quarterly Meetings and in the
correspondence columns of the Co-operative News. Official state-
ments were published by the C.W.S. to prove that the Society paid
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