April 3rd, 1912

Council Meeting held Wednesday, April 3rd 1912 at 3 o’clock.

Attendance.

Present Miss Emily Cox (chair), Miss Pitchforth (Flax Workers), Mrs. Anott Robinson, Mrs. J. J. Findlay, Mrs. Gilroy, Mrs. F. E. Ashwell Cooke, Miss Todd (Womens Coop Guild), Mrs. Jones, Mr. Hugh V. Herford, Miss Mary Quaile, Mrs. O. M. Aldridge, Miss Florence Ashcroft.

Minutes. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and passed.

Apologies. Apologies for absence submitted from Mrs. Spence, Mrs. Sinclair and Miss Foster.

Finance. The monthly financial statement was submitted by the Treasurer.

Miss Quaile elected to G.F.T.U. Approved Section’s Executive Board. It was reported that Miss Mary Quaile (representing the Confectioners, Rubber Workers, Café Workers and Upholsteresses Unions), Miss Stapleton (representing the Leather Workers) and Miss Guffick (the Sewing Machinists and Corset Makers) had attended the first meeting of the Approved Section of the General Federation of Trade Unions in London. Miss Quaile was elected one of the seven members on the Executive Board.

Secretary’s Report Visit to Belfast. The Secretary reported re-her visit to Belfast. She had interviewed Miss Mary Galway of the Textile Operatives' Union of Ireland, Mr. Gordon of the Flax Roughers Union and Mr. Rooney of the Flax Dressers Union. Many spinners, rovers and reelers employed in the York Street mill, Greeves, Kennedy’s, Milewater and other mills were visited. The wages of the spinners and rovers was slightly in advance of the Broughton Mill rates. The wages of layers and doffers were nine pence and fifteen pence higher than the highest rates at Broughton. Reelers wages were much better, this was largely to be accounted for by the better heckling and sorting at the Belfast mills. Heckling was done away at the Broughton Mill about twenty years ago and as a consequence the reelers work was made far more difficult - the rates for reeling, as far as could be ascertained had not been raised. The Belfast rates were submitted to the Flax Workers’ Committee on Monday April 1st for comparison with the Broughton rate.

Letter to Broughton Flax Mill Directors. A letter was sent to Messrs. Renshaw on Saturday, March 3rd to remind them of the interview promised in the agreement of last September, asking them to fix the date.

Sub-Committee Minutes. Winding up of Cigarette Makers Union. The Sub-Committee minutes were read. These showed that the Cigarette Makers had held special meetings on February 29th and March 28th to consider the winding up of their Union in view of the Insurance Act. Both Miss Emily Cox and Mrs. Aldridge urged the members not to take this step. At the latter meeting however to wind up votes were given in favour and two refrained from voting. At Mrs. Aldridge’s suggestion it was resolved to secure the services of a solicitor to ensure that the winding up be conducted in a proper manner.

Emily Cox May 8th, 1912