Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/119

Memorial from the Enginemen and Firemen Employed On the Great Western Railway.

 

(October, 1889.)

 

To the Honourable Board of Directors.

Gentlemen,

 

Your Memorialists approach you under circumstances which cause them much sincere regret. It has not been without much deliberation, individually and collectively, they have again resolved to lay before you the grievances of which they complain, trusting you will give them a favourable and early consideration. with a view to their amicable settlement. We sincerely regret that after an experience of ten years of classification, we now find ourselves more unsettled than ever. We therefore respectfully submit the following scale of hours and wages as one calculated to give satisfaction to all Enginemen and Firemen in your honourable service, and we also ask that a deputation of Enginemen and Firemen may be received to state their grievances.

 

Proposed Regulations.

 

1st.—That all Enginemen and Firemen be paid at the rate of ten hours per day. That the number of miles be limited to about 150 miles for through passenger, and 120 miles for local passenger and goods trains per day.

2nd.—That the hours of duty be reckoned from "booking on" to "booking off" duty.

3rd.—Eight hours to be taken as a shed day.

4th.—That one hour be allowed in all cases for getting an engine ready, the time to commence one hour before the engine is due to leave the shed.

5th.—All men booked on duty six times in one week to receive not less than six days pay.

6th.—That all classification of work be abolished.

7th.—Scale of wages:—