Amalgamated Society of Dyers, Bleachers, Finishers and Kindred Trades – Perth Branch
1927-29: (documents): minute book. 900. Perth Museum. From 28 April 1927 until 19 June 1929. Committee met at Trades Club. Issue of piecework pay (young girls) at Messrs Pullar & Sons. John Brough President, Miss J. C. Taylor Secretary. Pay rise for piecework achieved in May at Pullars, still negotiating at P.D.W. May 1927 letter from Trades Council asking union to campaign against the Trades Union Bill, the secretary had attended part of that meeting. Included women members and delegates to the Delegate Board. Mention of the National Minority Movement and of a letter from the “Labour College as regards a meeting at the I.L.P. Hall on June 12th dealing with the Trades Union Bill.” Issue of skilled and unskilled workers and wages at Pullars. Mention of Political Fund and the Trade Union Defence Committee. Mention of Scottish District Council. 25 August 1927 “The passing of the Trade Union Dispute act however, would be likely to keep the Branches busy in the near future she would draw attention to the possibility of special meetings arising out of the new act.” Mention of contracting-in-cards for the Political Levy. Discussions against the new legislation seeing it as an attack on the Labour Party funding arrangements. Mention of Trades Council Conference. Correspondence with I.L.P. and W.E.A. and Scottish Typographical Association. Special Branch Meeting 3 November 1927 a vote For the Amendment 22 and For the Motion 34 – relating to a termination of agreement with Employer’s Federation. 24 November 1927 contracted-in numbers 21 men and 64 women. By 22 December 1927 41 men and 85 women, the 20 February 44 men and 99 women. Correspondence with Labour Party over affiliation fees and donations – agreed. Mention of STUC congress to be held in Perth in April 1928. Not accept invitation form National Minority Movement to a conference in Dundee February 1928. Special meeting of employees in the warehouse of Messrs Pullars held 28 February 1928: application for an increase in wages considered and District Secretary agreed to take up matter with firm. Officer and committee elections 15 March 15 1928: Brough re-elected as President, the committee comprised 7 men and 5 women; other posts Vice-President, Treasurer; Executive Council. District Council, Delegate Board, Ladies Council. Firm not helpful in negotiations and refused to meet further. Letter from Left-wing Movement about a conference in Glasgow – committee agreed to take no action. 26 April 1928 Pullars still refuse to meet but say they will consider matter in writing. Union once more to demand meeting. Again, they refused. “Communications from the Minority and Left Wing Movements and Communist Party were refused consideration by the Committee.” – 20 June 1928. 3 July 1928 two girls dismissed for minor offence and union refused to get involved other that saying to the firm that the believed the treatment of the girls was too severe for a first offence. Correspondence about Indian Workers’ Welfare Conference. 18 July 1928: “An invitation to a Labour Demonstration by the I.L.P. 4th August was read. Speakers:- Mr Wedgwood Benn M.P. and Mr Leonard (?), the prospective candidate for Perth.” 19 September 1928: correspondence from a Women’s Committee in Dundee about a meeting with their delegates returned from Russia. Mention of a meeting attended by the Secretary of the branch and Miss Banks at the Co-operative Hall on 15 September with E. Shinwell relating to the Co-operative movement. Case of three members of the A.E.U. who wished to leave their union and join the Dyers’ Union. Eventually the union decided not to pursue the warehouse matter with Pullars anymore. Mention of difficultly in getting members to contribute to Political Fund. This was thought to be due to member’s lack of knowledge as to the reason for the fund. Two deputations to committee meeting over reductions in piecework rates – Steaming Room and Cleaned Silk Finishing. 22 November 1928: District Secretary collecting information on Piece Rates. Invitation to Housing Association Conference in Glasgow – no action. 19 December 1928: Further complaints on Piece Work Issue; this time from Tulloch. Appeal from Miners’ Relief Fund considered favourably. 20 December 1928: Resolution with firm: no change in Steaming or Tulloch departments but agreed to attend to Cleaned Silk Department alteration of rates issue. The firm denied that there had been changes to the rates in the other two departments. Big meeting of members on this issue 7 January 1929. Attendance at Co-operative Education Committee School. Next month some progress on the issue. 20 February 1929: Discussion of proposed grant of £1000 to the Miners’ Relief Fund. Indifferent response to Minority Movement Conference. March 7th 1929 correspondence from CPGB – lecture on British Road to Socialism. Also, correspondence from Divisional Labour Party to meet prospective Labour MP for Perth. Branch agreed to attend a social evening of the Perth Trades Council. 14 March 1929 Annual General meeting elections to committee: “The Chairman explained that our usual practise was to appoint five women and five men” … “The full committee were appointed to act as Delegates to the Perth Trades Council”. April 17th 1929: “Secretary again submitted the I.L.P. Election Fund Appeal, and the committee responded generously”. April 25th 1929 – meeting with Labour candidate, Helen Gaull (?) for union members to take place at the trade club on the 30th. 15 May 1929 – mention of meeting with Ramsay MacDonald on the 17th. Also, mention of a meeting with Mr Wheatley on the 27th and another with Mr Maxton on the 24th.
1931-32: (documents): minute book. 901 22 July 1931 committee meeting in the side-room of the Co-operative Hall. Issue of overtime when members were unemployed – discussion of restricting overtime to 5 hours a week and of a ban on overtime. Seem to alternate some meetings with committee in Co-operative Hall and branch meetings at the Trades Club. And balloting on nationally negotiated wages and conditions with the Employers’ Federation. Committee backing the recommendations but final decision down to the members. Negotiations with G. Eastman. Seems that the deal involves a wage decrease and worse shift arrangements. The alternative to agreeing the new terms was dispute. Some members gearing up to strike, the employers adamant that they will not yield. 16 September 1931 – “The Chairman reporting on minute dealing with Alexandria Branch and the unofficial strike of f@@@?” Use of Political Fund to attend a Co-operative Party Conference. 24 September 1931 – Ballot Result (for-against) Perth 314-877; Acton 42-2; Hackney 517-2-; Hinckley 209-53; Glasgow 3-33; Manchester 9-/ so For 1094 and Against 985. Here Perth appears to have a much more militant stance than the London workers do. “The Chairman expressed disappointment with the vote in our branch, 500 having refrained from voting.” “Secretary also had a letter from the General Secretary containing a protest from the London District Secretary against the result of the Ballot at Perth being published in a Scottish newspaper. He intended to bring the matter before the EC.” 28 September 1931 “the Employers’ Federation ha agreed to a month’s postponement of the proposed new agreement to provide opportunity for further consideration.” Donated money to Labour Party funds. John Brough is still President of the branch. 12 November 1931 Messrs Pullars threatening to lay off 300 to 400 workers unless the workers volunteer to be laid off one week in three. Resolved to hold a mass meeting of workers on Sunday 15 November to discuss these proposals. At that meeting: Difficulty because no national agreement at present. Issue of Messrs Campbell, Lindsay and Fisher had been going around individual workers to the new proposals and the union was instructing workers to tell the employers to deal directly with the union. Branch resolution on new conditions: “That we accept the decrease in wages, but do not agree to one week in three. That we want the conditions of the old agreement as to dismissals, and in the event of dismissals we will cease work.“ Unanimous and officials directed to approach Messrs Pullars. Special Branch meeting 18 November 1931 at Synod Hall: with J. Dougherty(?) and Y. Griffin (?) district secretaries. Issue about district instructing branch secretary not to tell members of the result of meeting with Pullars – controversial and secretary and others annoyed. The secretary is a Miss Taylor. District secretaries reported that Pullars offering now one week in four instead of one in three, claiming issue related to general depression. Similar arrangement in Acton Vale. “Mr Griffin reviewed the position as between Acton and Perth and said if Acton had been fully organised the employers would not have made these proposals. He said that the Directors had known all that had taken place at the meeting before we met them … he said that the threat of dismissals was a form of intimidation. He said it was for the members to decide on the issue, and he advised them to stand solidly by the decision of the majority.” The branch considered the firm’s proposals and agreed unanimously to accept them excepting the short time. In addition, that should anyone be dismissed there will be a strike and workers will stay out until workers are taken back on the terms of the old agreement. Conference held with Pullars the next day – Dougherty, Griffin and Taylor. The firm said that the union’s decision was not representative of the workers and the union offered to ballot. 22 November Committee meeting – arrangements for the ballot completed. Pointed out in the last ballot, 500 did not vote and this must not happen again, they needed 80% in favour. November 26th meeting of the Pieceworkers about differences in old to new rates across the firm. Firm agreed to make some adjustments. 17 December 1931 meeting some dissatisfaction re the 3rd Ballot, “the opinion was expressed the Mr Dougherty should not have agreed to this”. The firemen at the firm were being exempt from the short-time and the union felt that all workers should share alike without exception – matter to be raised with firm. Branch agreed to request from the Trades Union Congress to send a resolution in favour of disarmament to the Prime Minister. Branch agrees to send secretary to a Labour Party conference in Dundee due to be addressed by Mannie Shinwell. February 17th 1932 Pullars breaking agreement as some workers “were to be laid off in relays of two’s and fours in each department (presumably indefinitely). One section of the mechanics had already had a fourth week off”. Secretary instructed to visit firm next day to protest. Information on Co-operative party two-day afternoon school on 23 and 24 February. 22 February 1932 meeting at which letter from firm proposing to maintain temporary unemployment until 2 April. 9 March 1932 mention that unemployed workers getting jobs back at Pullars were being given unskilled rates. Resolved by March 17th. Union state that real problem is not having a signed agreement with the firm to hold them to. The General Secretary of the union visits the branch 14 April 1932. He talked of the on-going and lengthy dispute in London and on the situation of the union. “He claimed that better conditions had been maintained at London through their strike and at Hinckley because of their threatened strike than were obtained at Perth”. He supported the idea of a National Agreement but did not believe it could be obtained for some time. Attendance at this meeting was very poor. Mr Griffin was coming to Perth on May Day to speak at an I.L.P. event/demo – branch endorsed this. Information from Trades Council about May Day Committee. Agreement to set up The Dyers’ Union Local Benevolent Fund (Perth Branch). 12 May 1932 report of Delegate Board Meeting. Issue of workers at Pullars being in arrears on dues and that they will be reported to the firm unless this is sorted. 19 May special meeting to constitute a benevolent fund. Agreed. 1 July special meeting called as union had heard (but not been consulted) Pullars were about to make changes to hours. Firm reducing their prices , expecting a push of work and proposing three nights overtime per week and if that failed proposed to change shift patterns. The firm had simply sent foremen around departments and not consulted the union. Issue of married women getting employment whilst so many single girls were unemployed. President is John Brough and Secretary is J Taylor. 5 July Scottish District Secretary – J. Dougherty – in attendance. He had received correspondence from Pullars – issue of pieceworkers working reduced hours and hence losing wages. However, “he realised that Messrs Pullars position was serious. They were faced with great competition. He considered it might be in the interests of all to adopt the new methods temporarily.” Also, issue of Tulloch workers doing overtime until 10 pm then having to do a shift of 2 pm until 10 pm the next day. July 7th District Secretary reports on meeting with Pullars. Firm said a Home Office official had consulted the workers; union objected to the methods used. Main objections form the pieceworkers who will lose money in the new arrangements. Tulloch workers being asked to work Saturday afternoons. Seem to resolve the matter and normal shift patterns continued. And lobbying for unemployed workers to get temporary employment successful to some degree. Also attempt to cut rates at the Hoffman Presses “had been frustrated by the action of the girls in refusing to work.” Committee to carefully monitor events. August 17th case of four men with service between 12 and 14 years to be dismissed: the men had been moved from the town to Tulloch to keep up with increased work and now to be dismissed despite the fact that temporary workers were being kept on. Secretary instructed to visit Pullars the next day on the issue. Main union still pursuing National Wage Agreement. Invitation from Co-operative Education committee to weekend conference 27 and 28 August. 19 August 1932 Secretary met with Pullars. The company said the men were being dismissed for inefficiency. However, firm withdrew one notice and agreed to reconsider the others. Then Pullars wrote to say that they would not cancel notices. Union disagreed – men good workers and one was paid over the standard rates. Union not to act further. 29 September Appeals from General Secretary and Trades Council on behalf of the workers affected by the cotton dispute – local committee to take no action. Next few meetings looking at issue of workers getting skilled rates at Pullars and not the unskilled presently paid. Dismissals of temporary and permanent workers occurring. 26 October 1932 Large numbers being dismissed. Large attendance at branch meeting on the 27th. Members asked if they were prepared to allow continuation of dismissals. Resolution: “That the District Secretary be empowered to approach Messrs Pullar and endeavour to secure some system of sharing work, so that there should be equal sacrifice, but with the proviso that all dismissed workers be taken back.” Unanimous agreement. On the skilled rates issue (48 cases) firm agreed to pay. Firm’s response to the resolution negative and they were already busy transferring a lot of work to London (Acton). 16 November 1932 article had appeared in the Daily Herald about the situation at Pullars.
1932-35: (documents): minute book 902. Starts 14 December 1932. Meeting at Trades Club. 327 workers dismissed at November 27th. District secretary reported on a meeting with the Pullars’ management; the firm is to undergo a modernisation process. And that many dismissal notices issued since that meeting and not in accordance with agreed rules. Firm in breach of contract and union looking at legal issue. Pullars to withdraw pension scheme to be replaced by “one giving of P.W. to workers 65 years of age, with over 20 year’s service, at the present time.” December 21st 1932 401 workers on out of work register. Early January issue of girls being put on jobs previously undertaken by men now unemployed from Pullars and a general discussion on changing work practices at the firm. There was a further matter of some of the unemployed men being brought back into Pullars on lower wages than before. All workers are on short time. January 23rd 1932 – major discussion on “women in men’s jobs, change in warehouse hours, the effect of the change in the …. Of giving notices of dismissal, and the uncertainty of no signed agreement between both parties.” Union agreeing not to take benefit of members who refused to go back to Pullars on lower wages. February 15th 1933 – Girls in the stains removing department had forced the management at Pullars to reinstate the old wages and conditions for a temporary period, Committee felt that the workers were showing less apathy to their plight and getting more militant. “Secretary reported that a Departmental manager had notified members of the Clerk’s Union that Pullars was now a non-union shop.” Union to confront management to ask why such worker intimidation was being made. Agreed to get 200 leaflets on ‘Higher Wages’ from the Daily Herald. By next meeting, it is clear the workers are being told that they are not required to be in the union to work at Pullars as before. And the Pullars management now objected to subscriptions being taken up at the works. A clear attempt to break the union in the opinion of the chairman. Scottish District Secretary T. Griffen “warned that unless they kept their organisation intact, they might expect attacks upon their wages and conditions. He referred to the employers’ proposals of 15 months ago and of the Ballot taken and the small majority shows against the proposals. This result had shown that almost half the workers were prepared to accept any conditions, and therefore conditions had worsened since that time. Mr Drysdale [Managing Director at Pullars] was now displacing men with women, irrespective of the suitability of the work. There were reductions of piece rates and threats of wage reductions, very soon a stand would have to be made by the workers and it was only by a unanimous response that victory could be asserted.” Monday 8th March 1933 a member who had been dismissed was denied the pension he was entitled to – told to come back when he is 65. 10th March 1933 – Discussion with Pullars’ management; one issue over refusal to pay journeymen full rates when due. Pullars propose a new pay scale for apprentices with an improving rate up to age 24. This extends apprenticeship and delays full pay for two years. This despite the fact that most apprentices often did the work of and took the responsibility of a journeyman. Issue that many apprentices had accepted these lower wages and were thus undermining the union. The union agreed to retain the right of full rates of wages on the finish of an apprenticeship. A mass meeting of workers to be held next week. March 15th 1933 AGM – stated that this year had witnessed the highest unemployment in the union’s history, conditions worsened and attempts to lower wages being made. March 19th 1933 – Mass meeting at City Hall: with Scottish District Secretaries Griffen and Dougherty. Good attendance. Amongst all the current issues mention was made of an attempt to get a Workers Council at Pullars. Proposal in condemning changes at Pullars and that “members request the Executive Council to give permission to hand in motions to cease work.” CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Response from Pullars in a letter dated 24th March 1933 – 1. Apprentice Dyers – if union refuses to agree new wage scale the firm will cease to take on apprentices and sack all they have. 2. On appointment of married women firm can support its labour demands as it sees fit. 3. Overtime excesses too bad just busy and difficult to get extra workers from Labour Exchange. 4. Union – company not attempting to lessen union influence. 5. Notices to cease work – down to the economic situation. One response from the union was to send Mr Drysdale the list of unemployed members to counter point 3 of the letter. April 4th 1933 – At Pullars after the posting of a notice intimating a cost of living reduction in wages there was a sit-down strike – “unanimously over the Town Works”. The firm had said that the reduction was in agreement with the union – which was false. The strike began spontaneously and spread. Union step in and Drysdale backs down temporarily agreeing to stabilise wages whilst negotiations over a local agreement take place. Local branch president is now Mr J Dickson after the retirement of the previous incumbent. The spontaneous strike by the workers had forced the management to back down it was generally agreed at branch level. April 19th 1933 – still no concessions for warehouse workers on getting alternate Saturdays off. Pullars delaying negotiations on local agreement. Dismissal still going on despite overtime increases. April 28th 1933 – Draft of Agreement: decided to reject it after consideration. Still fighting on all issues. May 3rd 1933 Bagnall General Secretary in attendance who said that in any agreement the question of union recognition was keystone. Special Meeting May 4th 1933 at Synod Hall in the Watergate: Mr Bagnall again present at this branch meeting. Mention was made of the 1931 Acton strike defeated by Perth workers agreement to the terms whilst their Acton comrades stayed out. Bagnall also suggested that the proposed agreement from Pullars was also the work of the employers’ federation. One issue in the proposed agreement was unlimited overtime which should be opposed. Went through agreement clause by clause and as a branch agreeing recommendations. May 29th 1933 – Of the 14 counter-proposals: won 10, lost 1, compromised on 1, and 2 under consideration. General Secretary at this stage advising acceptance of the agreement. Agreed unanimously. Employment Committee in the works – Mr R Duff to serve for the union. June 21st 1933 correspondence from Trades Council about the appointment of a full-time organiser on unemployment; the Bleachers declined to support this venture financially. July 18th 1933 Special Meeting of the Committee and Mechanics – attempt by F. Eastman to reduce wages of mechanics’ labourers – the firm “questioned the right of the union to include the labourers as members and said they were all overpaid and had higher wage rates than any other shop. He proposed to bring in a basic rate of 11 and a half per hour”. Secretary had objected and said could not envisage lower rates – lowest such rate for them was 1/- an hour. Objection also to the way proposal given – should be in writing. 19 men affected by the proposal. “It was unanimously agreed to resist any attempt to reduce wages”. July 20th 1933 – employers saying the mechanics’ labourers not covered by the agreement. Firm threatening to close down their shop and re-engage others on the new rate. Meeting Perth Branch Committee presided over by J Dickson (President) of Branch Committee and Members employed in the Engineering Department of Messrs J Pullar and Sons Limited at the Trades Club 26th July 1933. [General Secretary is G H Bagnall] about proposal to reduce wages of Engineers’ Labourers to those of labourers in other shops. “After discussion it was decided by the men that if the Labourer’s rate of 47? – per week be paid they will cease to do the skilled work”. Firm agrees to maintain Engineers’ Labourers at same level for one year after which negotiation to take place. August 16th 1933 – mention of a TUC appeal on behalf of German workers under the Hitler regime. August 22nd 1932 report of the Tulloch Watchman’s Hours amounting to 70 hours per week. Big issue arising over workers being in the union at Pullars and the company refusal to maintain this. 15th September 1933 – 15 non-unionists now working at Pullars and branch meet to discuss this. Agreed to cease work on Monday 18th September unless all 15 joined up. “It was also agreed that in the event of victimisation to any one, all should walk out”. September 28th 1933: Labour Party conference, debating class at ILP Hall both mentioned. October 23rd 1933 Pullars to decentralise from Perth and reduce staff. December 5th 1933: announcement that the Tulloch Works were closing down in a few weeks with 500 job losses and no chance of being re-instated. 23rd December set as closing date but firm asking if workers can be put on day-to-day notice from the 19th. Union unanimous that they cannot agree to this arrangement. Also, issue of dyers being forced to accept lower wages at the threat of sacking. Firm refused to accept that this was in breach of agreement. January 17th 1934 Meeting at City Hall: Talk of Engineering Labourers, close of Tulloch Works, attempts to reduce status of dyers. Appeal to refuse lower wages and to younger members to keep that which had been won for them. Trades Council organising a Protest on the Unemployment Bill meeting 28th January at Co-operative Hall. January 30th 1934: Pullars to get all supervisors to leave the union. Union position reiterated and later meetings is that ALL workers must be in the union. March 8th 1934 Pullars’ management imposed a piece rate cut in certain departments. Union to meet employers who stressed the need for economy. 10% reduction in wages is the affect. Workers refused to agree until union – District Secretary – involved. March 13th 1934 Meeting reports that they reminded Pullars of their agreement that no change to rates without consultation of union first. Pullars just say that agreement not binding. March 14th 1934 two foremen and one forewoman told their collectors that they intended to withdraw from the union. No action to be taken until they are in arrears. March 21st 1934 – Trades Council request union to affiliate to May Day Committee; union agree to make donation but not to affiliate. March 28th 1934 Special meeting with the pieceworkers. “Protests had done good and that departments that had not made any effort were sharing in the benefits gained by the more militant members”. However, to proceed members would have to down tools. April 26th 1934 Mention of the Huntingtower bleach fields and organising the workers there. June 20th 1934 a James Harvey writes to Pullars asking to be paid skilled rates, is refused and then sacked. Union to protest. September 19th 1934 – Huntingtower Bleachfields excessive overtime, some still working 10 hours a day. September 27th 1934 Attempt to organise workers at Almondbank ends in failure; the workers did not attend. October 30th 1934 Pullars announce and start laying men off for three hours a day – in the middle of the day – saying that they are not required at this time. This to become a permanent arrangement. November 4th 1934 Next Pullars action is workers dismissed and others put on one week off in three i.e. dismissed for a week and the reinstated. No union consultation involved. Meeting with Pullars, Eastman points out that Tulloch did not close this year as expected, but might still close. Pullars to continue with weeks off meaning in the course of the period to March Tulloch would lose 7 weeks and the Town 6 weeks. Union response is to ask for one week off in four and no dismissals of those with five-year service. Company refuses the one week off in four and considers the dismissal proposal; later refused. November 14th 1934 agree to adhere to agreement. November 21st 1934 Laying off men in the middle of the day now stopped. Controversy over decision at last meeting to adhere to agreement; many members approach the union over rescinding it. November 27th 1934 Mass meeting at City Hall: includes G N Bagnall (General Secretary) and Clifford Pulman (General President) of the union. It was suggested that the protest against the union decision had been precipitated by the company to cause dissent within the union. “Pullars were deliberately attempting to break the Agreement as they had twice attempted to do”. Meeting resolved to ballot members. Majority passing. December 3rd 1934 Ballot result For the Agreement 831 Against 268. Congratulation telegram from the General Secretary. December 5th 1934 Informal meeting as Pullars had organised a meeting of workers inside the works that day – Tulloch and the Town. The management had then issued ballot papers to the workers: Do you prefer that we meet the necessity for cutting down the number of workers occasioned by seasonal slackness (1) By standing off a week at a time in turn or (2) By Dismissals. “At Tulloch the workers had taken the ballot papers and in some cases marked them. But in town, the workers led by Mr Dickson, Chairman of the Branch, refused to take the firm’s ballot papers. Mr Dickson by his questions and statement of the case for the union completely nonplussed the Company‘s representatives and the meeting ended farcically”. December 6th 1934 Firm agrees union position and ballot result. December 20th 1934 Discussion about negotiations for amendments to agreement and discussions with management. It was decided to wait and try to get an agreement that covered the Acton branch as well. Noted that workers at Tulloch works had been intimidated and this affected their vote. December 24th 1934 General Secretary of the union had met Mr Drysdale of Pullars in London. His report “was lengthy and strongly worded and advised the members to refuse to work overtime on … work after the close down at Messrs Pullars”. Presumably, the Xmas/New Year close down. Resolved to call a mass meeting in City Hall. Called off after General Secretary said not necessary for him to come on report on the meeting with Drysdale. January 16th 1935 Issue again of overtime not to be done until all workers had resumed. January 24th 1935 Correspondence from General Secretary on agreement amendments etc. Now agreed that all departments fully staffed could work overtime. February 5th 1935 Issue of married women employed whilst single women still unemployed raised again. Acton negotiating to get terms similar to Perth and correspondence between the two branches on such for example night shift arrangements. Women’s TUC in Perth to be held, representative from branch sought. Pullars looking to fix wages and meeting to be held. Letter from Perth Unity Committee on Unemployment Demonstration and Mass meeting of Sunday 24th. February 25th 1935 Proposals from Pullars discussed – issue of how it affects overtime and how Acton would be treated. Decision to accept the proposals for fixed wages subject to sorting out overtime and getting similar satisfactory conditions at Acton. February 28th 1935 Committee recommends acceptance of fixed wages system. Vote 58 For and 4 Against – several abstentions. March 21st 1935 AGM J Dickson re-elected. Included report from Trades Council. March 26th 1935 Appeal from Divisional Labour Party for help in the Bye-election. At the meeting of April 3rd 1935 acceptance of new employment agreement at Pullars, including overtime. Acton had already agreed the same deal. Unanimously. April 17th 1935 Unity Committee letter on Bye-Election. Branch agrees not to support that committee anymore and for the Trades Council delegates to get that organisation to do the same. Mention of intimidation. The Chairman and Mr Steel are the Trades Council delegates.
1920-c1930: (documents): miscellaneous papers 903. Includes Agreement Between Employers and Employees Messrs J Pullar & Sons Limited. Operative from 1st April 1933. Sets hours of working at 47 hours. Sets rates of wages: two types of workers – Established Workers and Non-Established Workers. Established Workers have five years service and are entitled fixed wages i.e. all-year round. Non-Established guaranteed a minimum of 75% of their respective basic rates. Examples Male Skilled Dyer in Charge of Section 66/- (highest); Male Labourer 47/-; Women and Girls age 21 27/-; Women and Girls age 14 9/6 (lowest); Boys age 20 38/6; Boys age 14 9/6 (lowest); Indentured Apprenticeship Third Year (of up to eight) 25/-. Overtime rate of time and a quarter. Holidays six whole days in the year for Established Workers. Probationary Period six months at 2/- less and six months at 1/- less (17 and over only). Piece rates set. Exceptions through incapacity. Notice to be one week. Disputes – union/firm agrees to negotiations before any strike/lockout action. Then seven days’ notice by either side. Amalgamated Society of Dyers, Bleachers, Finishers and Kindred Trades, Perth Branch 1920-c1930 (documents): leaflet. Amalgamated Society of Dyers, Bleachers, Finishers and Kindred Trades, Perth Branch 1924, programme for unveiling of a memorial to Joseph Hayhurst (previous General Secretary of the society).
1936-c1938: papers including balance sheet and rules. 904 Rules of the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers. Political Fund Contribution Notices. Balance Sheet for the Year ended December 21st 1938. Rules of the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers. Political Fund Contribution Notices. Balance Sheet for the Year ended December 21st 1938.