Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/223

 number of men got less than 30s. weekly. The companies, and not the Government, negotiated that matter, and the award being termed war bonus," rather than a permanent wage increase, formed a very important precedent for the whole war period. The alternative to a war bonus was separate negotiation with every company, under the Conciliation Scheme, and that meant much delay and difficulty. There was no allowance, it will be noticed, for boys under 18, and the whole subject was re-opened four months later, in reference both to men and boys. The Executive decided, in April, that Mr. Bromley should make application to the companies with a view to pressing for the carrying out of the original demand for an increase of 5s. per week all round, including those under 18 years of age. On the general question of profiteering and increased prices, the following resolution was carried:—

"'This Executive, representing 34,000 locomotivemen, is satisfied that the present labour unrest is due chiefly to the mineowners, shipowners, and other employers, and middle men, making money out of the war, and exploiting workmen at the expense of their patriotism. We therefore call upon the Government to fix prices for wheat, coal, and meat, and thus reduce the unrest to a minimum.'"

A war bonus of 2s. weekly was awarded to the staff, to be retrospective from March 1st, independent of the annual advances due in May. Mr. John Hunter, who had been a member for twenty years, was elected President for the year, with Mr. Worthy Cooke as Vice-President, and during much of the war period these two were prominently identified with the General Secretary in direct negotiations with the companies. At the resumed negotiations on January 11th and 12th, respecting the claim for an all-round 5s., the committee decided, on a report by the negotiators, to accept the offered bonus of 1s. 6d. weekly for boys under 18 years of age, but not to accept the decision not to allow any further bonus to adults. The negotiators returned to their task, but owing to the attitude of the N.U.R. negotiators, who did not support the