Page 223 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

Disputes at Leicester. ;
the highest rates in Leicester, and were the only employers to allow a
town rate for the country district of Enderby. In March, 1887,
after the reading of a letter in defence of the Wholesale Society and
themselves, signed by all the sixty-two C.W.S. Enderby workers, the
delegates refused to be wearied by any further discussion.
The dispute of 1892 was of greater magnitude. On Monday,
February 22nd, the finishers at Knighton Fields suddenly ceased
work, and other departments were induced to follow suit. By the
25th the whole body were on strike. The union officials promptly
advised a return, and indicated no strike pay, but the workers held
out. The only grievance alleged was the tyranny of a foreman, who,
however, on account of some conduct outside the works, as a then
official of the union, happened to be in disfavour. Tlie management
was met by a demand for the discharge of this employee. Both
sides were heard by the C.W.S. Committee, and the causes of the
dispute were closely investigated. The result was a unanimous
decision to leave the issue in the hands of the management. Mr.
Butcher at the time was away through illness, but on his being able
to attend to affairs the foreman was transferred to another position
and on March 7th the strike ceased. In this case, as in the other, a
strike was commenced precipitately, and without reference to the
C.W.S. executive. Indeed, 8,000 pairs of boots were left unfinished,
and on this ground the Committee was advised legally to proceed
against the original strikers for breach of contract. This the
Committee naturally declined to do, preferring to waive the right ; but
they did not fail to point out that much trouble and expense to both
parties might have been saved had they been properly considered.
While both these disputes arose over comparatively slight
matters, there was an underlying contributory cause. The inventive
genius of America was busy upon the boot and shoe industry, and
separate machines were perfected to work upon each complete
detail of the craft. The whole operation was being considered, and
broken up into speciahsed labours capable of mechanical comple-
tion. Repeated deputations to America increased the number of
such machines within the C.W.S. works. Everyday experience
proved the necessity of the step. In one instance a large society
re-ordered upon a big scale, and particularly specified that the
boots should be hand-finished, "' as the last." This was disturbing.
Had all this new and costly machinery been imported for nothing ?
But a reference to order numbers and dates proved that the superior
finishing which the buyers had so appreciated was the work of the
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