From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An AutobiographyEdwards, George, Sir
History
From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An Autobiography
Edwards, George, Sir
George Edwards, 1850-1933
FELLOW WORKERS,--In presenting you with my fifth report I wish
again to thank you for the confidence you have placed in me during
the year; also all the kind friends that have rendered me such
valuable help during the year. The year has been a most eventful
one. Great interest has been taken in the Union. We have enrolled
over 2,000 members since I last gave my report. In May last the men
in St. Faith's and Trunch districts got restless. The men at St.
Faith's put in a demand to the employers for 1s. rise and their
working week to finish at 2 p.m. on Saturday. This was refused and
the men came out on strike on May 28th and have been out on strike
ever since. The committee on December 28th decided to close down
the strike at St. Faith's in consequence of the financial strain.
At the conclusion the President gave his address in which he rather
severely criticized the strike and said had he been at the committee
meeting he should not have sanctioned the men coming out on strike on
such a request.
Mr. Winfrey condemned the strike and accused Mr. Day and myself of
sanctioning the strike without consulting the rest of the committee, and
said he did not know anything about it until he went to Weasenham on
June 6th, after the men had been out on strike a week. I replied to this
rather warmly, pointing out that I carried out to the very letter the
resolution he (Mr. Winfrey) had moved at a committee meeting held on
April 25th, and, further, that I received a cheque from Mr. Winfrey on
June 4th to pay the men their first lock-out pay--so how could he say he
did not know? Further, before the strike commenced I had written both to
the President and the Treasurer begging them to let me call the
committee together to discuss the whole situation.
The discussion was carried on during the day with great spirit and
incriminations were indulged in from all sides.
A motion of censure on the Executive was moved by Mr. G. E. Hewitt on
behalf of the St. Faith's Branch for closing the strike. This was as
follows:--
That this Council protests against the dishonourable way the
Executive closed down the St. Faith's strike.
After a long discussion the resolution was put to the meeting and
carried by a large majority.
The President, Mr. Geo. Nicholls, at once handed in his resignation, and
although he was unanimously requested several times to withdraw it, he
refused to do so. Mr. Winfrey refused to allow his name to go to the
ballot for the treasureship. Mr. Day was opposing him. Mr. W. R. Smith
was elected president by a large majority. Mr. W. B. Harris
vice-president, Mr. H. A. Day treasurer, and the following were elected
to serve on the Executive: Messrs. J. Arnett, W. Smith, G. E. Hewitt, W.
Holmes, R. Green, H. Harvey, W. G. Godling, M. Berry and James Coe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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