Scotland in the nineteenth century

10. Labour

Section 10.5: Industrial relations

The evidence contained an examination of a number of cotton weavers, including five from Scotland. They gave evidence on the nature of disputes in the cotton industry, especially in Glasgow and Paisley, and the way in which the disputes were resolved.

In Glasgow disputes between the weavers and their masters were generally brought before the city magistrates (p. 103).

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"The Committee, to whom the petition of several journeymen cotton weavers resident in England; and also the petition of the cotton manufacturers and cotton weavers in Scotland, were severally referred..."

The Committee decided that the proposals to fix a minimum wage in the cotton industry, to limit the number of apprentices and to set prices for cotton goods were both impossible to implement and against the best interests of the industry.

The Commissioners heard that combinations of workmen had been raising wages in the iron producing areas, and having a bad effect on trade. The masters in turn expressed a desire to improve the education of the working classes in the hope of stopping hostilities between themselves and their workers. The situation had become so bad in Lanarkshire that the proprietors had asked Parliament for a petition. The area was organised by the Miners Association, which had 60,000 members in 1844, but the numbers had fallen by half after unsuccessful strikes in Northumberland and Durham. In Lanarkshire it was claimed that combinations were affecting foreign trade adversely.

A description was given of the iron-works at Monkland (pp. 10-11) by Mr. Murray, proprietor. Messrs. Bairds's ironworks, one of the country's largest producers, found it necessary to keep on site enough coal, iron ore and finished iron to last a year as a precaution against strikes from their own labour force.

In Lanarkshire the union clerk, William Clouglan, claimed the union had 18,000 members (p. 14). The day's work was restricted to work the men could do in eight hours. The employers claimed the work could be done quicker, and that the unions were deliberately keeping up the price of coal. In general they desired an inquiry into combinations.

"appointed to take into consideration the best means of settling disputes between masters and operatives..."

The Committee recommended that the voluntary formation of Equitable Councils of Conciliation should be encouraged to promote a more friendly understanding between employers and employees to help prevent strikes.

Spencer Northouse, the former editor of the Glasgow Free Press newspaper, gave evidence on a strike by weavers in Glasgow and how, in his opinion, a council of conciliation might have prevented this (pp. 81-82).

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"to inquire into the questions affecting the relations between employer and employed, the combination of employers and employed, and the conditions of labour which have been raised during the recent trade disputes in the United Kingdom."

The Commission divided itself into three committees, dealing with:

1. Mining, iron, engineering, hardware, shipbuilding, and cognate trades.
2. Transport and agriculture (transport including railways, shipping, canals, docks and tramways).
3. Textile, clothing, chemical, building and miscellaneous trades.

David Dale, Edward Henry Stanley, Earl of Derby and Anthony John Mundella chaired each of these committees respectively.

Assistant Commissioners were appointed to inquire into the conditions of employment of women and agricultural labourers.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Answers received from various associations of employees and employers in Scotland on the subject of wages, hours of labour, conditions of employment, strikes, lock-outs and disputes, etc.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Answers concerning wages, hours of labour, conditions of employment, strikes, lock-outs and disputes were submitted by various associations of employees and employers in Scotland.

[page 218]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Answers were received from various associations of employees and employers, Trades Councils, Chambers of Commerce and women's trades unions in Scotland on the subject of wages, hours of labour, conditions of employment, strikes, lock-outs and disputes, etc.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Maurice Evans Darby, a member of the Glasgow branch of the Seamen's Union (pp. 563-568) gave evidence before the Commission on his part in the foundation of the International Steward's Seamen's and Firemen's Society in Glasgow. Up to this time the labour force in Glasgow had been very disorganised. After the union was founded the men's wages were increased.

A precis and analysis of his evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group B of the Royal Commission on Labour, 1892. Vol. XXXIV [C. 6708 II] (pp. 41-42 and p. 97).

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

George Munro, who represented the Free Labour Party in Glasgow (pp. 108-112) reported on the conditions of dock labour on the Clyde. On the subject of shipping, James Cormack (pp. 52-64) appeared on behalf of the Shipping Federation and the Leith Shipowners' Society to give evidence on the Leith shipping trade and the strike which occurred there in 1889. J. Smith Park, who represented the Glasgow Shipowners' Association (pp. 112-125) gave evidence on employment on the Allan Line, and William Hannay Raeburn, chairman of the Glasgow or Clyde District Branch of the Shipping Federation and member of the Clyde Steamship Owners' Association (pp. 148-164) gave an account of the Clyde Navigation Trust.

A precis of this evidence and analyses may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group B of the Royal Commission on Labour, Vol. II, 1892. Vol. XXXVI Part III. [C. 6795 II]

[page 219]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Representatives of the textile industry in Dundee and Forfar gave evidence. John Harry Walker, a jute spinner (pp. 444-456) attended on behalf of the Dundee Chamber of Commerce to give information on imports and exports, the number employed in the jute industry, wages, working hours, fines, sanitary conditions, holidays, accidents, the half-time system and the strike which occurred in 1885 against a reduction of wages. He thought the introduction of an eight-hour day would stimulate foreign competition and ruin the jute trade.

Reverend Henry Williamson (pp. 456-464), president of the Dundee Factory Operatives' Union, gave evidence on conditions of labour, arbitration, accidents and inspection in Dundee. He expressed a desire for the employment of a female factory inspector where large numbers of women were employed. The members of the Dundee Factory Operatives' Union were mostly women.

Thomas Roy (pp. 467-472) represented the workers in the jute and linen factories in Forfar. He reported on the strike of 1889, which lasted ten weeks, as a result of which an advance was given to the men but not to the women. The Forfar Union objected to the half-time system, which tended to reduce the wages of adult workers and lower the moral tone and the pass rates in the schools. They thought it preferable that children should start work as full-timers at the age of thirteen.

Precis and analyses of the evidence on the textile industry in Scotland may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group C of the Royal Commission on Labour, 1892. Vol. XXXIV. [C. 6708 III]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

A number of miners from Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Fyfe and Clackmannanshire gave evidence on wages, hours of labour, accidents, inspection, strikes, blacklisting, lock-outs, the scales of deductions and allowances and the proposal to nationalise mines. Among those who gave evidence were James Keir Hardie, who had been president of the Ayrshire Miners' Union (pp. 182-225), Robert Smellie, who represented the Larkhall miners (pp. 41-66) and William Small (pp. 66-97) who represented the Blantyre Miners' Association. The difficulties of organisation of trades unions in Lanarkshire, the system of sub-contracting and the employment of boys and unskilled men in mines were also discussed.

[page 220]

John Cronin, general secretary of the Associated Society of Millmen of Scotland (pp. 366-388) and Charles Vickers, agent of the National Association of Blast Furnacemen for Scotland (pp. 275-286) also submitted evidence. The main objects of the latter association were to obtain an eight hour day and abolish Sunday working. The Scottish ironmasters refused to recognise the Association.

Summaries and analyses of this evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group A of the Royal Commission on Labour. Vol. II, 1892. Vol. XXXVI Part III. [C. 6795 I]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

John Weir, Secretary to the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association (pp. 220-232) submitted evidence on the relations between mine owners and miners, the system of contracting in Fife, wages, notice to leave employment, working hours, and the observance of the "eight hour rule", black lists and the employer's rights of eviction of miners from their houses in event of a dispute. There had been no serious strike in Fife, but a dispute had arisen in 1888 when the employers enforced a 10 per cent reduction in wages and the men declared a fortnight's holiday as a protest.

A precis and analysis of John Weir's evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group A of the Royal Commission on Labour, 1892. Vol. XXXIV. [C. 6708 I] (pp. 21-22, pp. 95-96).

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Alexander Bean, secretary of the Brechin Factory Workers' Union (pp. 35-42) gave evidence on wages, the eight hour day, half-time system, sanitation, accidents, inspection and strikes in the textile industry in Forfar and district.

James Brough, representative of the Operative Masons' Society of Scotland (pp. 278-287) and D.B. MacGregor, secretary of the Master Masons' Association of Glasgow (pp. 305-310) reported on the conditions of labour and relations between employers and employees in the building industry in Scotland.

W. Wright (pp. 375-376), who had been secretary of the Leith, Edinburgh and District Mutual Association of Coopers, gave details concerning wages, working hours, apprenticeship and strikes.

[page 221]

Summaries and analyses of this evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group C of the Royal Commission on Labour. Vol. II, 1892. Vol. XXXVI Part III. [C. 6795 III]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

The rules of various Scottish trade associations, Trades Councils, Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Arbitration and Conciliation were included.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

The Assistant Commissioners reported on the labour supply, the conditions of engagement of agricultural labourers, their wages, housing, gardens, allotments, relations between employer and employed, and membership of benefit societies and trades unions in the above counties.

Indexes to this report may be found in Labour. The agricultural labourer. Vol. III: Scotland. Part III. Indexes to the reports of the Assistant Agricultural Commissioners, 1893-94. Vol. XXXVI. [C.6894 XVII]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

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The Assistant Commissioners appointed to inquire into the conditions of the agricultural labourer in the above districts of Scotland considered the relations between employer and employed, the labour supply, method and terms of hiring, hours of work, wages and payments in kind, accommodation and the livestock kept by labourers, and membership of benefit societies and trades unions.

Indexes to this report may be found in Labour. The agricultural labourer. Vol. III: Scotland. Part III. Indexes to the reports of the Assistant Agricultural Commissioners, 1893-94. Vol. XXXVI. [C. 6894 XVII]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

This volume contains a separate section on Scotland (pp. 247-330), which includes:

1. A memorandum on the reports of proceedings of the Royal Commission on the Employment of Children, Young Persons, and Women in Agriculture, 1867.
2. A memorandum on the reports and proceedings of the Royal Commission on Agricultural Interests, 1879-1882.
3. A memorandum on the Census returns for 1871, 1881 and 1891.
4. A memorandum on the agricultural returns for Scotland, 1891.

19. Labour. Appendix to the minutes of evidence taken before the Royal Commission on Labour (sitting as a whole), 1893. 1893-94.
Vol. XXXIX Part I, 366p. [C. 7063 IIIA]
Chairman: Spencer Compton Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Appendices: Rules of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited (pp. 39-43).

Distributive expenses of the society (pp. 44-45) and statements showing its progress (p. 46). Wages paid to its employees (pp. 48-49).

Tables relating to the United Co-operative Baking Society, Glasgow (p. 47).

[page 223]

The Assistant Commissioners inquired into the alleged grievances of women and considered the difference in the rate of wages of men and women and the effects of women's employment on their health, morality and homes.

Margaret H. Irwin submitted a report on the conditions of work in the textile industry of Glasgow and in the calico printing and turkey red dye works in the Vale of Leven (pp. 171-178). She also reported on the conditions of work in some of the textile centres in the western district of Scotland, i.e. Ayr, Greenock, Johnstone, Alva, Blantyre, Kilmarnock, Kilbirnie, Lanark, Paisley, Port Glasgow, Bridgeton, Dunfermline and Dalry (pp. 179-194).

Miss Orme compiled a report from several reports by Margaret Irwin on the conditions of work in Scotland (pp. 253-318). This covered the textile industry in the north of Scotland, the woollen industry, tailoring, brush-making, umbrella-making, the manufacture of sewing machines, potteries, lead and colour works, tobacco manufacture, employment in shops, dressmaking, printing, book-binding, publishing, stationery manufacture, map printing, rubber and vulcanite works, paper making, rag picking, rope teasing and sack sewing.

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

William Maxwell, chairman of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (pp. 33-61) gave an account of the growth of the co-operative movement in Scotland and the differences between English and Scottish co-operative societies. The Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society consisted of a federation of 268 retail societies. Mr. Maxwell gave details of the system of profit-sharing, the conditions of work of the employees of the Wholesale Society and any disputes which had arisen. The principle of co-operation was applied to the manufacture as well as the distribution of goods.

Robert Walker, organising agent of the Traders Defence Association of Scotland (pp. 31-364), which was composed of wholesale and retail merchants and manufacturers in every trade, criticised the evidence of Mr. Maxwell. The objects of the association were to inform the public, by the means of lectures, pamphlets etc., of the injurious effects of the co-operative and civil service stores on the trade of the country. Mr. Walker said, "the aim of co-operation... is the extermination of all private enterprise, retail, wholesale, and manufacturing."

Summaries of this evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before the Royal Commission on Labour (sitting as a whole), 1893-94. Vol. XXXIX Part I, [C. 7063 II] (pp. 0-12 and pp. 15-16 respectively). Analyses of their evidence (pp. 8-9 and p. 19) and a subject and trades index may be found in the Index to the evidence taken before the Royal Commission on Labour (sitting as a whole), 1893-94. Vol. XXXIX Part I. [C. 7063 III]

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For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Walton Paton, a member of Glasgow Town Council (pp. 126-129) submitted evidence on Glasgow Corporation Tramways and the agitation which arose over the conditions of employment in 1888 and 1889.

Robert Lemmon and William Cuthbertson (pp. 167-170), who represented the National Scottish Horsemen's Union and the Amalgamated Carters, described the attempts of this union, especially in Greenock, to reduce the hours and raise the wages and gave evidence on black-lists and the dismissal of union members by employers.

Considerable evidence was submitted on the conditions of railway servants in Scotland. Andrew Ballantyne, assistant secretary to the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (Scotland) (pp. 248-286) described the conditions of labour in various grades of the railway service and submitted evidence concerning the Scottish rail strike, 1890-91 and the strike on the Caledonian Railway of 1883. Many of the strikers had been evicted from the houses owned by the Caledonian Company at Motherwell. He recommended that three months' notice should be given to tenants and the working hours should be restricted by law to a ten hour day. The existing system of aggregating the hours of labour for a week or a fortnight was unfair and dangerous. He also advocated the introduction of a system of public inquiry into accidental deaths in Scotland and suggested a number of amendments to the Employers' Liability Act, 1880.

Representatives of the North British Railway Company denied the statements made by Mr. Ballantyne concerning the negotiations during the strike of 1890-91, the cases of long hours and overtime, alleged falsification of timebooks, victimisation of those who took part in the strike and neglect in cases of injury (pp. 373-386). Angus Campbell, solicitor in Glasgow (pp. 303-31 1) gave evidence concerning the operation of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875, with special reference to the prosecutions arising out of the Motherwell strike riots of October, 1889.

A precis of this evidence and analyses may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group B of the Royal Commission on Labour. Vol. III, 1893-94. Vol. XXXIII. [C. 6894 XI]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

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A number of witnesses from Scotland gave evidence on chemical works, the printing industry, bakeries and the conditions of labour of shop assistants.

George Mitchell (pp. 1-12) represented the chemical workers of Scotland and gave information on their hours of labour, the shift system, wages, inspection, and the dangers to health.

Witnesses from the printing unions gave evidence on the employment of women in the printing trade, the introduction of machinery, the apprenticeship system, wages, strikes and the eight-hour day.

Alexander Catto appeared on behalf of the Federated Union of Operative Bakers in Scotland (pp. 268-270) and Kenneth M. Milligan represented the Scottish Shopkeepers' and Assistants' Union (pp. 430-436). The main object of the latter union was to secure the early closing of shops.

Appendix XL: Rules of the Dundee and District Mill and Factory Operatives' Union (pp. 573-574).

Appendices LXXXIV-LXXXVII: Hours worked in shops in Scottish cities, wages paid to shop assistants, taxation paid for shops in Glasgow and information relating to closing (pp. 646-648).

Appendix CVI: List of deaths at St. Rollox Chemical Works, Glasgow, 1884-1892 (pp. 667-668).

Summaries and analyses of this evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group C of the Royal Commission on Labour. Vol. III, 1893-94. Vol. XXXIV. [C. 6894 XII]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

Alexander Law, chairman of the Clyde district of the Associated Shipbuilders' Society (pp. 101-102) submitted evidence on the dispute which arose on the Clyde in 1877. The workmen had requested an advance of one penny per hour. Mr. Law was in favour of submitting cases of dispute to conciliation or arbitration boards. He said, "the strain that we have between capital and labour I think could be alleviated materially if the masters were more in touch with the men."

James Miller Jack, secretary of the Associated Iron Moulders of Scotland (pp. 195-201) was examined by the Commissioners. The objects of this association were to provide for their members during seasons of depression, when any members were disabled as a result of an accident and to give funeral allowances. Mr. Jack gave information on the relations with associations of employers, strikes, arbitration, wages, piece-work, overtime, the apprenticeship system, proceedings under the Employers' Liability Act, 1880 and the eight-hour day. He opposed state regulation of hours of labour except in the case of miners and railway employees, whose work was of a particularly dangerous nature.

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Witnesses complained about sanitary arrangements, systematic overtime and the large number of apprentices compared with journeymen in the engineering and shipbuilding industries. It claimed that the rule stating that the proportion of apprentices to journeymen should not exceed one to five was often disregarded.

John Inglis, partner in the firm of Messrs. A. and J. Inglis, shipbuilders and engineers in Glasgow (pp. 395-404) gave evidence on behalf of the National Federation of Shipbuilders and Engineers. He discussed the question of picketing and the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875.

Appendix LIX: Statement of blacksmiths' wages in the Clyde district (pp.481-482).

A precis and analysis of the above evidence may be found in the Digest of evidence taken before Group A of the Royal Commission on Labour. Vol. III, 1893-94. Vol. XXXII. [C. 6894 X]

For terms of reference see First Report, 1892. [C. 6708]

The Commissioners reported on the co-operative system and referred in particular to the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (p. 20 and p. 46), which not only distributed goods, sharing the profits between the buyers and the employees, but also carried on a number of productive industries.

A large proportion of the evidence taken by the Commissioners centred on the question of legislation to enforce an eight-hour day. Representatives of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire miners advocated an eight-hour day on the grounds that it would reduce output, and therefore, increase wages and profits, and it would provide work for the unemployed (p. 70).

The review of the inquiry into agricultural labour, carried out in 1892 and 1893, contained a separate section on Scotland (pp. 224-234). A greater proportion of the population were engaged in agriculture in Scotland than in England or Wales. Details of the labour supply, the method and terms of hiring agricultural labourers, their hours of work, wages and payments in kind, housing, i.e. the cottage, bothy and farm kitchen systems, gardens and allotments, livestock, benefit societies, trades unions and the relations between employers and employed were included. The conditions of the agricultural labourer had improved considerably during recent years. The Commissioners recommended that state loans should be made available to landlords to supply better cottage accommodation.