IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY

1927

Restoration of the guaranteed week on British railways (April).

Passage of Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act.

Extracted and adapted from

Newhaven Branch Meeting

Sunday May 29th 1927

Circular from Secretary of Sectional Council re Coupling and uncoupling of engines on passenger trains. Pro. by F. Sherwin & sec. by J. Giles. ‘ hat this meeting is against the practice of coupling and uncoupling of engines and instruct Branch Secretary to interview each member not present and get opinions and forward resolution to Secretary of Member side of Sectional Council.

Newhaven Branch Meeting Sunday June 26th 1927

Arising from the minutes re coupling and uncoupling engines on trains by enginemen. Secretary reported that he had been to each member and all were unanimous against, also Secretary for enginemen N.U.R. had also signed circular for his members against it.

DEBORAH READ COLLECTION

Eastbourne A.S.L.E.& F. Members c1920s

Walter Coombes is at the rear on the right, the other members are not known

Note that they are wearing A.S.L.E.& F. badges

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL

A.A.D. BOOK

JULY 1927

extracted from the 1927 Annual Assembly of Delegates book

SUMMARY ON DISTRICTS

No.

DISTRICT NAME

Electric

Scotland

Lancashire & Ireland

North

Midland

North London

Central

South London

Wales & West of England

No. OF BRANCHES

No. OF MEMBERS

688

4,861

10,053

9,807

8,918

8,982

5,720

6,919

7,659

No. I DISTRICT

(ELECTRIC).

BRANCHES: 6. MEMBERS: 688.

ELECTRIC DISTRICT.

Acton Town, East Ham, Stockwell, West Brompton, West London Electric & Westminster

DISTRICT No. 8.

SOUTH LONDON.

BRANCHES: 53. MEMBERS: 6,919

Ash

Ashford

Andover

Battersea (No.1)

Battersea (No.2)

Bricklayers Arms

Brighton

Bournemouth

Coulsdon

Deal

Dorking

Dover

Dorchester

Eastbourne

Epsom

Eastleigh

Faversham

Folkestone

Fulwell

Gillingham

Guildford

Hastings

Horsham

Littlehampton

Maidstone

Margate

New Cross

Newhaven

Newport (I.O.W.)

Nine Elms

Orpington

Peckham

Portsmouth

Purley

Ramsgate

Redhill

Ryde (I.O.W.)

Sheerness

Slade's Green

Strood

St. Leonards

Sailsbury (No.1)

Sailsbury (No.2)

Selhurst

Three Bridges

Tonbridge

Tunbridge Wells

Templecombe

West Croydon

Wimbledon

Windsor

Weymouth

Yeovil

BRANCHES THAT ARE NOT LISTED ABOVE

BUT ARE RECORDED OF BEING OPENED BEFORE 1927

Bognor ref - Loco Journal June 1926

Midhurst ref - 1916 A.S.L.E.F. Calender

ELECTRIC MOTORMEN.

The application of the rule in regard to the representation of Electric Motormen presents difficulties which we enumerate for your consideration.

HISTORY.

1909. - The question of direct representation was discussed the first time at the 1909 Conference when the Standing Orders

Committee recommended:-

"That this Conference make it an instruction to the E.C. to re-arrange the London Districts so as to make it possible for the Electric Motormen to secure representation on the E.C."

During the discussion, Mr. Moore stated that the Electric Men had the power to elect a representative in their own district, but he had been told by one of the Electric Men that they were of the opinion that this was not the case, as their interpretation of the rule was that only Drivers were eligible.

The recommendation was lost, the rule to remain unaltered.

1912. - The matter was again discussed at the 1912 A.A.D., and after much discussion West Brompton moved:

" That the Electric Men of London have a representative on the Executive Council."

Some delegate then referred to the development of electric traction throughout the country, and in reply to a question the West Brompton delegate agreed to delete the words of London " from his resolution and the following was carried by a large majority:—

"That the Electric Men have a representation on the E.C."

The amended Rule appeared in the Igı2 Rule Book as follows:—

"The Executive Committee shall consist of twelve members (one must be an electric motorman)," etc.

The E.C. at their meeting in July decided to ask for nomination for the Electric Motormen's representative to be nominated and voted for by motormen only. The electric members not to be allowed to nominate or vote for any other district.

The district was decided as follows and appears in E.C. Minutes No. 48:-

New Cross, Peckham, Stockwell, Westminster, West London Electric, West Brompton, & Plaistow

Mr. S. Garrison was ultimately elected representative,

office from January, I9I3.

The principle underlying the system of representation is well

covered by the following extract from the E.C. Report to the 1915

A.A.D.

" We desire to inform you that owing to our efforts the

position of electric train Drivers have been more efficiently

safeguarded. At meetings held on the Conciliation Scheme

efforts were made by others to separate the electric-men from

the steam Locomotivemen. We could not agree to any scheme

which did not give power to the electric-men to sit on the same

board as the steam Locomotivemen on any Company where

both electric and steam men were employed. We also were

definite in opposing any scheme that took away the power

of electric motormen on the entire electric railways, and

ultimately were successful in our efforts in those directions."

METHODS OF REPRESENTATION.

1. London Electric Railways.

2. London Electric Railways plus Electric Depots in vicinity of London.

3. All Electric Motormen.

Membership covered by above methods:-

I. 688.

2. ?

3. ?

REMARKS ON METHODS.

METHOD No. I.

I. The London Electric Railways are covered by an independent agreement on Conditions of Service and also by an independent agreed scheme of Negotiating Machinery which obviously implies direct representation on E.C. to ensure maximum efficiency.

2. Efficient representation of other Electric Motormen can be obtained by them being included in the E.C. district which covers their depots.

METHOD No. 2.

1. Under this method there are two sections of men: one covered by the London Electric Railway's. agreements on Conditions of Service and Negotiating Machinery, and the other covered by the National Agreement on Conditions of Service and Negotiating Machinery.

2. The possibility would, therefore, exist of the London Electric Railways not being represented.

3. Many of the men, not employed on the London Electric Railways, are not permanently employed as Electric Motormen but take their place in rotation in the Steam Links.

METHOD No. 3.

1. The remarks in Paragraphs 1, 2 and3 on Method No. 2, apply to this arrangement. It should be noted that the effect would be to render the London Electric Railway directly unrepresented.

2. In addition, area covered by this arrangement is very extensive and must add to the difficulty of effective representation.

3. The development of Electric transport in general will increase the number of men and also the district concerned, which in due course will necessitate a further revision of the question of representation of Electric Motormen. This presents difficulties and should be avoided if at all possible.

CONCLUSION.

It is desirable for a decision to be reached as to which is the most effective method, on a permanent basis for providing representation on the E.C. of Electric Motormen.

Issued on behalf of the Executive Committee.

Yours fraternally,

J . BROMLEY,

General Secretary.

Extracted and adapted from

Newhaven Branch Meeting

Sunday August 28th 1927

Any Other Business, Bro. Ellis asked if anything was going to be done regarding the claims at this depot and how we stand regarding seniority with Brighton, as he thought there were Junior men to him with regular job firing. Secretary explained that according letter he had received from Secretary of Sectional Council, we stood on our own and Secretary also referred to minutes of a earlier date of an interview of a shed representatives on the same question with Mr. Fuller and he said we were only under Brighton for administration.

Considerable discussion arose, Bro. Ellis saying that on several occasions he had made applications for transfer and he had never heard any more of them. It was agreed that as Bro. Boyle was going to see Foreman on his position with Brighton to letter the matter stand over till next meeting.

LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL

OCTOBER 1927

HORSHAM BRANCH

Pleased to say we still keep the flag flying. The important news since the last insertion is a visit by Mr. Long E.C., and the Improvement Class outing, which took place to the Ashford erecting shops, which were visited by kind permission of the Southern Railway. Leaving Horsham just before 8 o’clock, Ashford reached at 11-15a.m., where we met a small party from Newhaven, with our very able instructor, Mr. H. Cornwall, of Brighton.

The Southern Railway Debating Society welcomed the party, and, much to our regret, Mr. Bumstead was unable to come, owing to indisposition. We first went over the very fine sports ground, after which we split up into parties, each under a guide supplied by the company, and went into the Locomotive Erecting Shops, where we saw engines in course of construction, including the “River” class, also engines for repair. We then looked over the carriage and wagon shops. Tea was served at the Ashford Working Men’s Club, supplied by the local co-op., after which Mr. Bone proposed and Mr. Cornwall seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the guides for the instructive way they had explained things to us. Mr. Wright suitably replied, and said they were only too pleased to do it. We then had a look over the club, and afterwards returned home which was reached at 10-30p.m., after a lovely day thanks to our energetic secretary, Mr. E. Charman. If any locomen living near Horsham would like to this class, our secretary will give any information.

A. FRANCIS

PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN

Brighton Loco Yard

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