A.S.L.E.F.M.&C. 1924 Strike Fob front 

(Motormen & Cleaners)

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL

FEBRUARY 1924

STRIKE ISSUE

A SUMMARY OF EVENTS

PRIOR, DURING, AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE STRIKE

To begin at the beginning, it will be remembered by our readers that the Railway companies presented the Union with demands for such drastic revisions in the Conditions of Service of Locomotivemen, that the Union could not for a moment, having regard to the splendid financial position of the Companies, consider them as being reasonable and just. In fact, counter proposals were put forward on behalf of the members with a desire to bring the Conditions of Service more near to the terms of the National Programme of the Society.

After discussion between the representatives of the Companies and the Society, the whole issue was referred to the Central Wages Board, where no understanding could be arrived at, and from there to the National Wages Board, which, after a lengthy hearing of the case, issued its finding, which shown on a later page.

It will been that the whole of the finding very heavily on the Footplatemen, and appeared to be tending in the direction advocated by Mr. Clower, the Companies' Advocate before the National Wages Board, i.e., of bringing the Locomotivemen down toward the miserable conditions of labour generally.

The Executive Committee, on considering the finding, could not take the responsibility of accepting same on behalf of the members, so decided to summon a Special Meeting of the Annual Assembly of Delegates, which was held on Friday, December 21st, 1923, and at which the whole position was thoroughly discussed, during a Conference lasting from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the result that the Delegates, again unable to accept such drastic downward revision in the Condition of Service of Locomotivemen, decided to refer the matter to the members generally, and take a ballot vote for acceptance or otherwise, with the refusal to accept giving the Executive power to call a national strike unless the Companies were prepared to modify the findings sufficiently to justify their acceptance.

a ballot paper was therefore drafted and issued to the members, returnable not later than January 2nd, 1924: 58,643 ballot papers were issued to the members concerned in the finding (excluding Branches in Ireland,  on the London Electric Railways, and on certain small lines). Owing, however, to the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the shortness of time allowed, a further extension of time for the return of ballot papers was given, with the result  that 37,404 were returned, 30,484 being against acceptance, 6,546 in favour of  acceptance, with 194 spoilt papers, giving a majority against acceptance of 23,938. This warranted the Executive in carrying out the provision of the ballot paper, and consequently, on January 8th, the Railway Companies were notified of the result of the ballot, and a meeting requested between representatives of the Companies and the Executive Committee to consider the position. On the same date, the N.U.R., R.C.A., and T.U.C. General Council, were informed of the position, also the A.E.U. and National Foremen's Association, with whom the Society has understandings with regard to members on railways.

On January 10th, a reply from the Companies was receive by special messenger, indicating that they could not agree to the slightest alteration in the findings of the Wages Board, but suggesting January 11th for meeting, which was accepted by the Executive Committee, it being noted that the Companies' reply was equivalent to making the finding of the Wages Board equal to a compulsory arbitration award. On January 11th a letter was received from Mr. F. Bramley, Secretary of the T.U.C. General Council, appreciating the Executive information, offering assistance if necessary, and suggesting a Joint Meeting of the three Railway Unions. The same day, in accordance with the previous arrangement, the Executive met the General Managers, who were adamant that there could not be the slightest alteration or deferment of operation of the finding of the Wages Board and this position they agreed to reduce to writing and forward to us.

On January 12th, this was received from the General Managers, an entirely uncompromising document, refusing consideration, and the Executive, Committee thereupon prepared for the struggle, and instructed the members to cease work at midnight on Sunday, January20th, unless they were advised to the contrary in the interval.

On Monday, January 14th, a Special Meeting of the T.U.C., General Council was called, and Mr. Bromley attended same as a member. At this meeting it was made clear that the Union had not asked for the meeting, but it had been called by the Secretary in view of possible trouble. The General Secretary, in reporting what transpired at this meeting, pointed out that Mr. J.H. Thomas, of the N.U.R., who was present, had, in his opinion, done everything possible to deprecate any action of the Council to assist in the difficulty, had emphasised the fact that he having signed the findings of the Wages Board, there could be no departure therefrom, and that the members of the N.U.R. would be loyal to him in the event of a strike, and claimed to have 42,120 Locomotive members out of 83,000, which he claimed to be the latest possible figures. This, of course, was amusing, as, with our membership of over 60,000, it would have made about 103,000 Locomotivemen employed I Great Britain, whereas, on his own showing there were but 83,000.

On January 15th, acknowledgments were received to our letter of the 8th, from the A.E.U. and R.C.A., which were encouraging, and a bare acknowledgment from the N.U.R. On this date Mr. Thomas phoned to the General Secretary, and asked if he were serious with regard to a strike, and on being informed that there was nothing for it but to carry out the instructions of our members, and nothing but a move on the Companies' part would avert a strike, Mr. Thomas said that he should therefore issue a statement to his members.

On January 16th, Mr. Arthur Henderson, Secretary of the Labour Party, following a phoned request for an interview with the Executive, which was readily granted, met the Executive at 11 a.m., and had the position explained to him. Mr. Henderson referred to the political situation, which was appreciated by the Executive, and he explained that he has so far do-nothing, but he would have a talk with his colleagues of the Labour Party on the position. On this same date, following a meeting of the Railways Staff Conference on business not connected with the dispute, the General Secretary had a conversation with representatives of the Railway Companies on the position, and there appeared to be some hope of some further consideration being given to the position, and, as a proof thereof, it may be mentioned that two hours after this conversation, the Companies withdrew from the Press a statement which they had handed in. Later, information came to hand that Mr. Henderson had met the General Managers on two occasions, and it afterwards transpired that Mr. Thomas had also had an interview with the Managers, and at 9 0o'clock that night Mr. Henderson phoned his failure to make any progress.

On January 18th, a letter was received from Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and an Executive reply returned. On this day, also, the General Secretary attended a meeting of the T.U.C. General Council at 2.30 p.m., and our President, Mr. D.S. Humphreys, was phoned for at 4.30 p.m. At this meeting Mr. Cramp, N.U.R., was in attendance, and it was reported to the Executive that he did not appear to very helpful to the General council, but undertook to get in touch with his Chief, Mr. Thomas, to see if he could agree to fall in with the suggestion of the General Council, that a postponement of the operation of the findings of the Wages Board should be asked for, so that further consideration could be given thereto in the hope of a strike being averted, and information was ultimately received that Mr. Thomas had agreed that whilst the findings could not be departed from, they may be postponed for three weeks. This was not very helpful, but in the hope of something coming of it, the General Secretary attended with representatives of the other two Railway Union, at a meeting between the General Managers and the General Council T.U.C. on Saturday, January 19th.

At this meeting the General Council asked the Managers to postpone the operation of the findings for three weeks, with a guarantee that some modifications would be made in them in the interval when the General Council would recommend to the Union the calling off of the strike for that period. The General Managers were, however, still adamant that they would not defer the one moment the carrying out of the full terms of the findings of the National Wages Board, offered, if the strike notice was withdrawn, to have a meeting with the two Unions concerned, to consider the alleviation of cases of hardship which could be substantiated and which both sides were satisfied should be alleviated. This was entirely worthless, being meaningless in its entirely, the only thing of any value being that they undertook that there should be no dismissal of cleaners and to absorb into the service any redundant Cleaners caused by the operation of the finding. At this meeting, as a last resort, the General Secretary asked the General Managers if their offer precluded any possibility of a revision of the finding in any way, and received an answer that it did. The General Secretary took no part whatever during these proceedings in negotiations with the Managers, leaving that entirely to the members of the General Council, he having no authority to do so, and being unable to speak for the Executive, the members of which were distributed throughout the country attending meetings of District Councils, making the final preparations for the strike.

Late on the evening of the 19th, a number of members of the T.U.C. General Council met the majority of the Executive, who had returned from their mission in the country, and laid before them the suggestions from the General Managers, which, as has been previously mentioned, were not worth the paper they were written, and so the Executive has turn them down and proceed with the strike.

On Sunday, January 20th, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald got on the phone with General Secretary, explaining that he was endeavouring to helpfully intervene, but said that if no further message was received from him before 4 p.m. it would mean that his efforts had failed. No message was received, either by 4 o'clock or later, and as the Executive had not anticipated any success owing to the counter efforts of the N.U.R., the final preparations for the strike proceeded, and at 12 midnight the members ceased work in splendid order and supported by a number of N.U.R. Locomen, whose soul was bigger than their Trade Union card, and whose principle was higher than that of their officials.

On Monday, the 21st, as an indication that the Executive were not in any way standing on dignity because of the tremendous success of their call to the members, a special messenger was sent to the Companies' Secretary, with a letter indicating that we were always prepared to meet the Managers.

On the 22nd, Mr. Bramley, T.U.C. Secretary, phoned asking if the General council could do anything to assist, and was told by the General Secretary, in reply, that it did not appear that they could help us very much unless, as Trade Unionists, they could make a public pronouncement against the horrible "black legging" of certain officers of the N.U.R., information of which was already to hand.

On the 23rd, the General Secretary again attended a meeting of the General Council of the T.U.C., when the Council considered the position, and, on being informed by the General Secretary that nothing short of a recognition by the Companies that the findings of the Wages Board were not equivalent to compulsory arbitration, and a considerable breaking down of the severity of its terms, would warrant the Executive in closing the strike, appointed Messrs. A. Purcell, G.Hicks, A.B. Swales, A.G. Walkden, and F. Bramley, the Secretary, as a Special Mediation committee to act if necessary. The Executive were satisfied that these gentlemen could be relied upon to do their best in any action which they took, and that confidence was later o proved to be merited.

On Thursday, the 24th, a letter was received from the General Managers, to which the Executive replied. Copies were sent to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minster, which, however, were not acknowledged, and to Mr. F. Bramley, Secretary of the T.U.C.

On this date, also, a Joint Meeting took place, between our Executive and the Executive of the A.E.U., where the position of A.E.U. members during the strike was considered. The actions of the Executive of the A.E.U. throughout the dispute were worthy of the highest praise.

On the 25th, the General Secretary met the Sub-Committee of the T.U.C. General Council, the members of which were moving to trying to bring the Managers into a more reasonable frame of mind and make it possible for a useful meeting to be held between them and our Executive. The General Secretary reported that the Cabinet had decided to leave the matter in the hands of the T.U.C. Mediation Committee, which body appeared to be endeavouring to get the N.U.R. to see the necessity of not standing in the way of a variation of the findings of the Wages Board.

On the 26th, the T.U.C. Mediation Committee met the Executive and reported the actions they had been taking, and the whole situation was thoroughly discussed, and the Executive agreeing to meet the General Managers at any time if there was a possibility of them retreating from the attitude which they had taken up of no deferment or variation of the findings.

On Sunday, the 27th, the T.U.C. Mediation Committee met the General Managers in the morning, and our Executive in the afternoon. Representatives of the Executive met the Managers at 5 p.m. at the St. Pancras Hotel, where, although the Managers had moved slightly from their position, no agreement could be arrived at, and the meeting had to be adjourned. At this meeting, our representatives informed the Managers that, owing to the "blacklegging" actions of the N.U.R., they refused to meet with them under any circum-stances whatever, and must settle with the Manager alone, the General Managers expressing the view that a settlement might be arrived at with us if it were not for other people. The Mediation Committee, on hearing the result, were disappointed that a settlement had not been arrived at, but expressed their determination to let nothing stand in the way of again bringing us together, in the interest of the whole Trade Union Movement.

On Monday, the 28th, the strike having gone satisfactorily over the weekend and into the eight day with position, from our view, as strong as ever, in spite of all the "blackleggin" tactics and joint efforts of the Companies and the N.U.R., a change appeared to come over the attitude of the Managers. About three o'clock in the afternoon, the Secretary of the Railway Companies phoned requesting the Executive to meet the General Managers at the Euston Hotel at 5 p.m. At 4.15, however, a message was received postponing the meeting, as a hitch had occurred, presumably the difficulty of shifting the N.U.R. out of the way so that a free hand could be given the Managers to settle the dispute, which by this time was becoming exceedingly costly and embarrassing to them. Finally, the Sub. Committee of the Executive met the General Managers shortly after 8 o'clock, and were asked to consider a draft of terms of settlement which the Managers, after a lengthy conversation with the T.U.C. Mediation Committee, were prepared to offer.

This document, although a distant departure from their previous position, providing, as it did, for the deferment of the full operation of the increased mileage for six months in two periods of three months each, still contained a clause asking us to accept the findings, gave no protection to Drivers not reaching their maximum, and generally was unsatisfactory, so that the Managers were at once told that it could not be accepted under any circumstances.

Following this, there were several partings into separate rooms and meetings again with drafts and re-drafts submitted, the full Executive being in attendance from 11.30 p.m., until at 4.30 a.m. the Managers had so far reconsidered their position that a document was agreed upon and signed as being satisfactory terms of settlement of the dispute and by 6 a.m. telegrams had been despatched to all Branches closing the strike.

The Mediation Committee, which had been awaiting events in another room (as all negotiations had been conducted directly with the Managers by our Executive, no others being present), were informed of the result and congratulated us on the settlement and its terms.

The full terms of settlement, which appear further down this pages, show the very great improvement made, not only on the earlier offers of the Managers, but on the offers eight hours before the final settlement, and, whilst not satisfactory to all members who were striking so determinedly, as no strike settlement ever is, they were, under the circumstances, a great victory for Lonomotivemen.

Thus ended the first great national Locomotive strike in Great Britain, which we are firmly of opinion was probably caused, but certainly prolonged, by the Officials of the N.U.R. obstructing, by every means in their power, even the slightest variation of the findings of the National Waged Board, we presume that the Mediation Committee will know more about that, as they came in closer touch with them. But, in any case, all opposition had to go to allow a settlement which has ended for all time the idea that the findings of the Wages Board were equal to compulsory arbitration, which set back for twelve moths (not three weeks, as the N.U.R. before the strike graciously agreed to suggest, and which the Companies refused) the operation of the terms of the finding, tremendously improved the chanced and increased the number of Drivers able to advance to the maximum rate, and brought to a minimum the pernicious split turns of Sunday duty.

This is not all, by any means, as the strike has resulted in both Railway Companied and men at last realising the power and determination of Locomotivemen, and has therefore, we believe, created a firm foundation for future progress, and we trust that the Locomotivemen unitedly will have some serious questions to ask before the 150 miles comes into operation in January, 1925.

Further down this page, will give, not only gives summary of events, but many other things of interest surrounding the strike, including evidence of some of the cruelest "blaclegging" that it has ever been our lot to dream of, and which is certainly without parallel in British Trade Union history.

Some of the prophets were confounded, and the reputation for veracity of some people who made wild statements must be severely shaken. Mr. Thomas, in the early hours of the strike, solemnly declared it to be a "fiasco," whilst railway officials at the same moment admitted that the stoppage was more complete than in 1919, when all grades were out, or supposed to be.

Mr. Marchbank, President of the N.U.R., informed two or three strike breaking meetings that he held proof that two thirds of the normal services were working. Let the following statement, taken from the Stratford Express, the 2nd of February, 1924, answer that fallacy:-

"We did better from the service point of view during the general strike,"  an official of the L.&N.E. Rsilesy told our representatives. "It was not merely passenger traffic that was disorganised, throughout the week only on coal train reached Stratford, which is a big coal depot."

Mr. Cramp, following the threats which had been used to striking Locomen by N.U.R. officials throughout the country, that if the men did not quickly get back to work they would be dismissed, was kind enough to say publicly that he would do his best to save their positions; the amusing nature of this statement is best realised when it is remembered that over 70,000 Locomen were on strike, and when this threat of dismissal was put to the General Managers at the meeting with them, on Sunday, January 27th, they quickly disclaimed all responsibility for such foolish utterances, and any sane man will realise that the difficulty was to get 70,000 men back to work, and not to dispense with their services by dismissal.

Whilst the other grades generally were more or less in sympathy with the striking Locomen, here and there there were foolish individuals who rushed into print in the early hours of the strike in a way that no doubt they afterwards regretted. One such is a gentleman named "James Eggleston," whose words of wisdom were published in the Railway Review of January 25th, and also issued in leaflet form to the strikers. This epitome of wisdom told all and sundry that he wrote his screed in bed on the morning of Monday, January 21st, and that he was "hearing the trains running as usual, although there happened to be a railway strike on progress." In fact, he went on to say that only the newspapers and his newfangled wireless indicated a strike in progress. We can only suppose that being in the bed he must have dreamt it, because the general opinion of Railway Companies and the public was that there really was as trike.

This good, kind gentleman goes on to say that he held it to be his duty to help to defeat us. He did not appear to have much effect, but the old, cloven hoof of jealousy of the Locoman is displayed immediately after, when he tells us that his wages are only 60s. per week. This is rather surprising, as one would think that if the N.U.R. can do all that they promise for Locomen, why have they been unable to do it for signalmen, or at least such ornaments to that grade as the individual under review. But let us continue to examine Eggleston's wisdom. He says "You thought to stampede the Railway Companies into giving some modification of the Award. The moral would have been (if they had, we suppose) for all Locomen to be in the A.S.L.E.&F."

Well, seeing that they have, will prophet Eggleston advise the Locomrn accordingly? We doubt it ! There are a few words of truth, however, in his article, when he says "in this dispute we have the most disgraceful exhibition of the working class fighting each other in modern times." Well, what is he going to do about it ?" Poor chap, the wish for disaster was evidently other to the thought, but we trust that he is now a wiser if not a sadder man, although we hardly hope for the former, as men of this calibre are not given to learning much.

We had, of course, as most striking workmen have, to face the bitter hostility of the Press, which, with the exception of the Daily Herald, and the Workers' Weekly, which faithfully reported and commented on the incidents of the strike, endeavoured continuously to mis-represent and abuse us to the public, and amongst the worst of all the capitalist Press was the Liberal London Evening Star, which, not content with general misrepresentation, actually transposed words of the General Secretary into meaning something quite different, and flamed them across its front page with the "fiasco" statement of Mr. Thomas, and when the News Editor of this paper, asking our General Secretary for information, was challenged with this action, he admitted we had some cause for complaint, but when told he would receive no further information or recognition, the Star went to greater vilification than ever. Our members should remember this, and get their evening news in future from a more reliable paper.

Unfortunately, the New Leader, official organ of the I.L.P., out Heroded even the capitalist Press, in a bitter attack on our organisation before the strike, but, when we remember that the Editor is one of. the latter day middle class adherents to the Labour Movements, we. are not greatly surprised. I.L.P.-ers, however, should look into it, if only for their good name. Of course, the Railway Review, with its usual straightforward candour, helped us no little, and when the members of our own Organisation begin to realise that their purchase of that paper is providing the wherewithal to find the heavy quarterly cheques paid to contributors to its columns for vilification and abuse of themselves, they will have sufficient wisdom to drop it, and so cut off some of the source of supply. Let it say what it will, neither it nor the Organisa tion it represents will in future have any control over the Conditions of Service of Railway Locomotivemen.

In conclusion, we may say that, in our opinion, the locomotive strikers can congratulate themselves on having courageously defeated the most horrible combination that it ever has been the ill-fortune of striking Trade Unionists to have to fight, and, having done so, they may face the future with complacent determination, believing that this not the end, but merely the beginning.

During the strike, there were a number of engine drivers who made themselves available for 

work, these included (seven*) engine drivers belonging to A.S.L.E.F., and a much larger 

number of drivers from the N.U.R. members, and "Nons." totally over 45 drivers

Owing to there being to many Drivers and not enough Firemen, this caused a problem 

regarding the manning of the locomotives, the Southern Railway, reached an agreement with 

the N.U.R. to allow their drivers to be paired up with each other, with one of the drivers 

acting as a Fireman.

Attempts were also made to get the available drivers to travel to Victoria, as the demand for 

conveyance to that place was the most pressing the drivers were obdurate. Trains arriving at 

Brighton were immediately dispatched back to the place of their departures.

* According to the figure recorded in the Newhaven Branch minute book

ALAN PENTNEY COLLECTION

 A.S.L.E.F.M.&C. 1924 Strike Fob rear.

(Motormen & Cleaners)

BRIGHTON 1924 STRIKE COMMITTEE

On the evening of Thursday 24th January, a conference was organised by the Strike 

Committee of the Brighton Branch of A.S.L.E.F., and was held at the Brighton Labour 

Institutional, in London Road, Brighton, The Branch Secretary, H. Beall addressed an 

audience which included a larger number of the wives of the men on strike. He said, that the 

strike would not have arisen if the finding of the Wages Board had been accepted. 

A resolution had been passed by the Brighton Branch to the effect that they deplored the 

actions of the N.U.R. drivers and firemen who were working other than their own turns, and 

in some instances, excessive hours.

With a view to keeping the strikers off the streets, concerts were being held during the 

evenings. The Brighton branch of A.S.L.E.F., decided that all the pickets were to be 

withdrawn, as there was little prospect of trouble between the various sections.

Extracted and adapted from

Newhaven Branch Meeting for January

Sunday Feb. 3rd 1924

Correspondence read and discussed.

Arising out of minutes of Dec. 30th 1923 re Bro. W. Smith report of J. Browning the N.U.R. Chairman awaiting an audience for a discussion on Shed matter presumably Shed representation was further discussed, when he expressed opinion concerning their desire for a meeting, was very much against having anything to do with them, in the view if their actions during the strike, which attitude was considered to have altered any tendency of this Branch to have met them.

Women Society

On Sunday 26th April 1925 saw the opening of the Brighton Branch of the A.S.L.E.F Women’s guild. 

For more details regarding the Brighton & Horsham Women's Guild 

please go to the sub page.