PREFACE.
The following Rules passed at the Conference held in London, in November, 1866,
were the result of careful and earnest deliberation, and are so plain that any preliminary
observations may appear superfluous; a brief
summary of their import, with a few remarks
on the nature of the Society itself, may not,
however, be out of place.
The Society had its origin at New Cross
in September, 1865, and after extending to
the London Districts, was fully organised
and commenced its labours in December,
1865, at which, time I was appointed Secretary. Since then , 60 Branches , including
over ten thousand Members have been open
ed, and are in full operation, and there is a
prospect of Branches being shortly opened
in Scotland. The original rules sufficed to
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govern the Society, until the meeting of the
Conference, when it was resolved to introduce
such amendments as would meet future wants,
and place the Society on a firm footing.
The object of the Society is clearly not to
oppose the employer, or deny his authority,
but rather to create confidence between the
employer and the employed. In many circurmstances a servant fears or hesitates to
approach an employer, to remonstrate or
state a grievance , and often in consequence,
puts up with a wrong in silence, or cares
little to attend to his duties. The idea of
the Society then is, to countenance only good
and faithful servants, and give them that
moral support when in difficulty, which is so
often required. On the other hand, it is
determined that the Members of the Society
in case of any dispute, shall be allowed to
appeal to the proper authorities, expecting
from them a fair hearing. It is recommended
therefore, that where this cannot be gained
from Superintendents, appeal should be made
to the Board of Directors. Past experience
dictates this recommendation, because it is
believed the Directors are little acquainted
with the way some of their oldest and
steadiest servants are treated.
As to the Rules, it will be observed by Rule 3, that in future the entrance fee for
Drivers will be 2s. 6d. , and for Firemen , 1s.
Rule 4 grants powers to Branch Societies
to frame their own bye-laws, and are subject
to their local Committees so long as the laws
made, and system adopted are in accordance
with the General Rules.
Rules 6 to 7 show the powers vested in the
Central Committee, and the necessity for the
Members of the Branch Committees to supply
them with the fullest and earliest information,
to guide their deliberations. Every important
topic will receive their most careful attention,
and as their time is very limited, it is to be
hoped that important questions only will be
brought under their notice.
Respecting Rule 12,it should be thoroughly
understood that it is the duty of each Branch
Society, through its Committee, to apply to
the Superintendent, on any line where a
grievance, or difference arises, if possible, so
effect a settlement, and to save the labour of
the Central Committee as far as possible.
Rule 13 is sufficiently explicit, and should
any member unfortunately be compelled to
avail himself of it, I recommend that he
should give notice to his Branch immediately.
An accident happens as it often occurs where
there is delay, advantage is taken to the dis
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advantage of the servant, and his defence will
not be complete.
Rules 16 and 17 show the importance of
every Member being clear on the Books at
the end of six months; it will avoid trouble
to the Branch Secretaries and annoyance to
the member.
Rule 21 must be strictly attended to ;
delays are dangerous.
I bring my remarks to a close ; they have
been brief, but may be of service to some
members, and tend to promote the objects of
the Society,—thanking the members for their
kind assistance and co-operation in the part
which I regard as the best pledge of a suc
cessful future.
J. OSBORN PUTLEY,
General Secretary.
31 , Brydges Street,
Strand,
January 1st, 1867.
RULES.
1. That this Society shall be designated
“ The Engine Drivers and Firemen's United
Society.”
2. That the objects of this Society shall
be to promote a good and fair understanding
between the employers and the employed ; to
protect its members against the oppression
and injustice of intermediate Officials; to
afford , a ready means, by arbitration or
otherwise, for the settlement of every dispute,
and for granting such assistance as the Central Committee may think fit.
3. That this Society shall be open to the
membership of all Engine Drivers and
Firemen on every Railway in the United
Kingdom , on payment of two shillings and
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sixpence entrance fee for Engine Drivers,
one shilling for Firemen, and a subscription
of two-pence per week. Firemen to be
eligible when considered so by their Branch
Committee. Both Drivers and Firemen
wishing to be enrolled must be duly pro
posed and seconded by two Members, and
passed at the same time.
4. That branch societies shall be formed
in different districts, subject to the control
of their Local Committees, and to any bye
laws they may enact, provided always that
they are in accordance with and subject to
the Rules of the Society.
5. That the business of this Society shall
be managed by an assembly of Delegates,
one from each branch, such Delegate to be
summoned by the Central Committee, at
such times as may be deemed necessary in
consistence with the interests of the Society.
6. That the Central Committee shall consist of two Delegates, duly elected and returned by each of the London Branch Societies.
7. That the ordinary Monthly business
of the Society shall be conducted by such
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Delegates in Committee, and a Chairman,
Treasurer, Secretary, and three Trustees.
8. That the Chairman shall be elected
annually by the Central Committee. His
duty shall be to preside at all meetings; to
maintain order, and in every division, in
case of equality, to have the casting vote,
and shall receive such remuneration for his
services as the Committee may from time to
time think fit.
9. That the Treasurer be elected by the
Central Committee annually ; that he shall
receive all moneys paid into the Committee
by the Branch Societies, or otherwise, and
lodge the same in the Post-office Savings
Bank, within twenty-four hours after, to the
account of the Trustees; have the custody
of the pass book, and present it at every
meeting of the Central Committee, and shall
receive such remuneration for his services as
the Committee from time to time may think
fit.
10. That the Secretary shall be elected
annually by the Central Committee, and his
duties shall be to attend all meetings of the
said Committee, keep Minutes and a record
of its proceedings, conduct its correspondence, keep books of accounts, prepare an
annual balance -sheet, to be circulated
amongst all the members, and generally be
subject to the directions and instructions of
the Chairman for the time being, and shall
receive such remuneration for his services
as the Committee from time to time think
fit.
11. That three Trustees be appointed
by the Central Committee, in whose names
all moneys shall be lodged at the Bank, and
two of whom must sign every cheque to be
countersigned by the Secretary.
12. That should any member or members
be suffering from oppression, at any time, or
should any of them be improperly discharged
from work, the case should be submitted to
the Branch Committee, who after investigation and pending any inquiry which the
said Committee may institute, the person or
persons shall receive out of the funds of the
Society their ordinary wages till the matter
in dispute be settled, provided that they
have paid six months' subscription to the
Society.
13. If any Member be prosecuted for
any offence alleged to have been committed
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by him while in the discharge of his duty,
he shall send a statement of the charge
against him to the Branch Committee, who
shall refer it to the Central Committee, and
if it appear to them that such member has a
reasonable defence to such charge, and that
the offence was not occasioned through, or
originated by the drunkeness or culpable
negligence of such member, the Committee
shall take all requisite measures for properly
defending such member against the charge
preferred against him. The whole expenses
of such defence to be paid by the Society.
14. That any Member out of employment for any cause not coming within the
cognizance of this society, may send a statement to his branch society of the nature of
his occupation, where and how long employed,
and for what cause he has left it, such
statement to be sent to the Central Committee, who will endeavour to keep a record
of vacancies and forward information respecting it to those Members to whom it
may be useful.
15. That in case at any time the entrance
fees and ordinary contributions of members
should not be sufficient to meet the legitimate
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claims upon the Society, the Central Committee are empowered to make a levy upon
each member, sufficient to defray the deficiency; and in case at any time the funds
should accumulate beyond the ordinary or
probable expenses of the Society, the Central
Committee shall call a delegate Meeting, and
the meeting shall decide what additional
benefits or special grants shall be made for
special purposes out of the funds of the
Society
16. That every member of this Society
shall be clear upon the books at the close of
the half -year ; failing to do so after due
notice of the same, shall be considered no
longer members, and their names forwarded
to the Central Committee.
17. That any member who through not
being clear on the books at the Half-yearly
Meeting, shall be expelled from the Society,
may re- enter as a new member.
18. That in case of any dispute arising
between any members and the Society, the
case in dispute will be determined by the
Central Committee; but if the Member or
Members feel aggrieved by their decision,
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the case shall be referred to two Arbitrators,
one chosen by each party. In case of the
aforesaid Arbitrators not agreeing, the Central Committee shall elect, by ballot, an umpire, whose decision shall be final.
19. That three Auditors shall in turn,
according to the number of their branch, and
one by the Central Committee, be appointed
annually, to audit and examine the accounts
previous to their being passed ; and shall
have access to all books and papers of the
Society for that purpose.
20. That any person claiming the protection of the Society shall report the matter to
the Chairman or Secretary of their Branch
Society within three days of the occurrence
that requires investigation ; failing to do so ,
he will be liable to forfeit the benefit of the
Society until such time as he reports his case,
21. That any Member wishing to be transferred from one branch to another shall have
a note from the Secretary of the Branch to
which he belongs, specifying that he is clear
on the books, which he shall submit to the
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Branch he wishes to join ; and from that
time shall become a member of such Branch .
22. That these Rules may be altered ,
amended, or added to, by the consent of
three-fourths of the whole body of Delegates
specially convened for that purpose.