Page 298 - 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.
adherents were men in co-operative employment, and these members
were taken over by the Amalgamated Union of Co-operative
Employees. The Avonmouth millers, forming a branch of this
union, while unconnected with their fellow-millers under private
employment, decided that the general standard desired by the
A.U.C.E. should apply to their work, rather than a millers' standard.
In August the question of a 48-hour week and a minimum of 6d.
per hour, with a rearrangement of overtime, was discussed along
Avith minor details by the management and a deputation of the
employees. Certain concessions were granted, but on main points it
was made clear that the Society, as employers, had already gone to
the farthest possible. About two months later two employees were
discharged for conduct which no trade unionist who investigated the
matter afterwards attempted to justify. Under the circumstances
a cry of " victimisation " arose. While one of the two men was
attached to the A.U.C.E., the other belonged to the Dockers' Union,
which interviewed its member, and then declmed to support his case.
The millers, however, asked for the reinstatement of both, and
talked of a strike. The C.W.S. Committee made inquhies, and then
informed the employees' xmion that they would not interfere with
the manager's action. Three weeks later, on December 6th, as a
result of a ballot, twenty-four hours' notice of a strike was given
by the millers, and the mill ceased work the following morning.
A deputation from the Bristol Trades Council met the C.W.S.
Productive Committee at Bristol on the 8th without result.
Meanwhile the strike excited attention in Bristol, and the Bristol
Co-operative Society indicated to the C.W.S. its sympathy with the
men. On the side of the C.W.S. the entire matter was submitted,
according to constitutional practice, to the Joint Committee of Trade
Unionists and Co-operators; and the committee, which included
Messrs. Bowerman, MuUin, Seddon, and Thome, met at Bristol on
December 27th and again on January 2nd. They came to a
unanimous decision that neither of the men had been discharged
for any trade union activity, and they regretted that the A.U.C.E.
had not submitted the issue to the joint committee prior to the
strike. But the men, who were receiving £1 per week strike pay
(10s. for non-unionists), declined to accept the verdict, and remained
out until January 15th. On the 14th, however, the union refused
to support them further, and the C.W.S. intimating that patience
was exhausted and that other men would be engaged, the five-weeks'
strike came to an end. In this connection it is worth noting that
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