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/212

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
164
Engines and Men

Mr. Hunter 2,018 and Mr. A. Mason 1,092. He had to reside in Leeds for a time to assist at Head Office, and then later moved to Carlisle. Shortly before, Miss Nicholson had joined the office staff as first lady typist, and an examination for clerical posts available to men from the footplate resulted in the appointment of Messrs. J. Wilson, Sowerby Bridge; A. E. Wintle, Doncaster; J. T. Crossland, Nottingham; A. C. Price, Birmingham; and Mr. Gosling, Bradford. The Head Office staff to-day includes some twenty members of the N.U.C., several of whom are ladies.

Edge Hill was disturbed over the case of Driver Gore, who was dismissed following a collision at Wavertree, and the demand for his reinstatement was in the hands of Mr. Bromley. Eventually, a Board of Trade Inquiry was conceded for January 10th, at the demand of the Society, the decision being sent to all branches on the L. & N.W. in view of the strike attitude being general. Members of the Executive were also deputed to attend meetings on Sunday, January 12th. This was hardly put right before, in February, came the case of Guard Richardson, of Normanton, who was dismissed for refusing to load his train beyond the brake power. He also was reinstated after a strike had become imminent. The Trade Union Act of 1913 had an important bearing on the Society, and the solicitors were instructed to revise the rules in accordance with that Act. The strike in Dublin also came into prominence in the Society, for several of the Welsh members refused to handle "blackleg" traffic. Engineman G. James, who felt very keenly the events transpiring in Dublin, refused on November 7th of 1913 to shunt a train partly composed of Dublin traffic, while he was occupied in shunting at Llandilo Junction. He was sent to the loco. depot, and on again reporting for duty he was suspended for ten days and sent home. On November 17th he was paid a week's wages in lieu of notice. On hearing of this dismissal, Engineman Reynolds reported himself off duty until James was allowed to resume. An open meeting was held at Llanelly on the following day, at which the reinstatement of James was demanded, and failing