Page 449 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

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The Thrift Fund.
scheme appeared. It provided for all permanent employees of the
C.W.S., whether earning fixed wages, salaries, or payment at piece
rates
; and it also was open to employees of the distributive societies
affiliated. Thus it applied not to the C.W.S. only, but to the whole
store movement, the wider reference being designed to meet an
objection arising from the lack of such a provision for retail workers.
Employers and employed each were to contribute 2| per cent on
wages, superannuation becoming possible at GO, on a basis of
from 25 to 67 per cent of the average weekly earnings. The scheme
was only to cover wages and salaries below £250, or that part of a
salary below £250, and no deduction was to be made from, or habiUty
incurred upon, any earnings above this limit. In case of death before
the age of possible superannuation the next-of-kin was to receive
both the individual's and the Society's contributions. Adjourned
at the September meetings, the scheme came before a special
meeting in January, 1898. But again the verdict was for rejection.
Mr. Redfearn (of Heckmondwike) took the lead in condemning any
scheme " unless supported entirely by the contributions of the
employees themselves." Against an average wage of 25s. 6d. per
head for each C.W.S. employee he gave the figure of 18s. as being the
average of 450 workers for a large Yorkshire firm known to him.
Were the recipients of 18s. to subsidise the people who were getting
25s.? And although the recommendation of the Committee was
advocated powerfully by Mr. ShiUito, Mr. Tweddell, and other
leaders, the proposals were adjourned at Newcastle, defeated at
London, and finally lost at Manchester.
At Newcastle Mr. Tweddell referred to a vote of thanks as " the
only bit of practical business you have done here to-day; " yet the
entire proceedings were not so barren. After the rejection, Mr.
Redfearn explained that he " wanted to bring something out of the
Wholesale scheme," and Mr. Shiilito, undiscouraged, hoped
ultimately for a positive result, saying
One of the hardest things that co-operators have to do is certainly this
to ask one of your servants who has worked faithfully, honestly, and dis-
interestedly for thirty or forty years to pass into private life without any
recocmjtion. Now, if he could have some provision made for liis retirement,
it would be a blessing to Mm and a very great gain to the whole co-operative
movement. . . . Men who have served you so long and so faithfully
should not be forgotten in their age and necessity.
Another movement in this direction was certain, but in the next
instance it began very properly with those most concerned. A sick
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