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/255

 one to enforce the eight hour day then, in the crisis year of the war. That it was not, but it was a claim to get a definite promise and guarantee, and the Government was for evading that guarantee as far as possible. Sir Albert Stanley had made a statement on the matter in the House of Commons on August 15th, in the course of which he said:—

"In October, 1914, in view of the war, the representatives of the railway companies, the National Union of Railwaymen, and the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, entered into an agreement which was generally known as 'The Truce. They resolved that notwithstanding the notice of determination, which expired on November 30th, 1914, the scheme of conciliation settled at the Board of Trade Conference on November 11th, 1911, should remain in force, and that the men's side of the Board on each of the railways, as then constituted, should continue to act, provided that either of the parties to the agreement might give six weeks' notice to terminate it, and there, upon the parties should agree as to the arrangement to be adopted for the future. It was further agreed that all existing contracts and conditions of service should remain in operation, and that no new agreement should be made by the companies, either with deputations or Conciliation Boards, during this suspensory period. This truce has been, by subsequent negotiations between the companies and the unions, confirmed and strengthened. The agreement had been duly observed, but the increase in the cost of living during the war had rendered it necessary that an improvement in the men's wages should take place. The present war bonus was 15s, per week to men over 18 years of age, and a lower amount to women and boys, the total cost being about £22,000,000 per annum. Quite recently, both the trade unions concerned made fresh proposals to the railway companies. The companies agreed with the National Union of Railwaymen that the war bonus should be converted into a war wage, the effect of which was to increase payments for overtime and Sunday duty at an additional cost of £3,000,000 a year. A like offer was made to the Associated