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/294



Sir Herbert Walker was then called in, and it was understood that it only affected shedmen who had regular allotted meal-times. upon which Mr. Bromley signed. Sir H. Walker then said he considered it should apply to electric trainmen, to which reply was given that it would then cause serious trouble. It afterwards transpired that before the Society knew of the agreement, instructions had been issued on the electric companies that no meal reliefs were to be given with pay, and that there was to be an actual eight hours working day. Further, the L. & S.W. service conditions interpreted the agreement so that overtime on the eight hours day would only be paid at ordinary time rate. Friday, January 31st, was spent in negotiation with the electric railways, with Sir A. Stanley and Sir H. Walker, but the Railway Executive would not concede the claim of the Society, holding that it must be an eight hours working day, with no pay for meal reliefs.

Members on all the London Tube Railways struck on Sunday night, February 2nd, followed by the motormen on the L.B. & S.C.R.. the District and Metropolitan remaining then at work. The Executive met on the following day, and made the strike official, calling out the members on the District Railway in support of those on the Tubes. Next the Executive decided to call out all steam men on the L.B. & S.C.R., and all the members on the L. & S.W.R., to prove their determination on this principle, and promised, if necessary, to follow this with a national strike of all the 42,000 members.

The District men struck and closed the line at once, and at the appointed hour the L. & S.W.R. men and the L.B. & S.C.R.