Page 14 - RVM-HB-KTHFB
P. 14
Keep The Home Fires Burning
By late spring 1916 with the rising cost of living meant both men and women were in
dispute with the employers for more money. This dispute was to rumble along for the next
six months of with meetings that did not produce anything solid until October when the
men and the employers came to terms, the men were satisfied the women were not. After
three hours of negotiations with the employers who had rejected the offer on the table
and the employers had not entertained the women’s demands.
The women’s demands were; a guaranteed time rate women over 18, 5 ½ an hour women
between 17 and 18 4 ½ d an hour and 16 and 17 4d and under 16 3 ½ d an hour. Over
time first two hours time and a ¼ after that time and a ½ and double time Sunday. The
employers wanted to pay the women 4d over 18
Mrs Fawcett and Mr Jones preside it at a meeting held at the Temperance hall. Women
had gathered an hour before the meeting and the hall was packed. Mrs Fawcett said the
union was asking for a guaranteed hourly rate. ,”They were warranted by the increase in
the cost of living “. The union application had been under consideration by the
Manufacturers association for seven months; arbitration had been offered but had been
refused in April. Now they were told they were munitions workers, what they were going
Page: 14 Source: Sue Tatlow
By late spring 1916 with the rising cost of living meant both men and women were in
dispute with the employers for more money. This dispute was to rumble along for the next
six months of with meetings that did not produce anything solid until October when the
men and the employers came to terms, the men were satisfied the women were not. After
three hours of negotiations with the employers who had rejected the offer on the table
and the employers had not entertained the women’s demands.
The women’s demands were; a guaranteed time rate women over 18, 5 ½ an hour women
between 17 and 18 4 ½ d an hour and 16 and 17 4d and under 16 3 ½ d an hour. Over
time first two hours time and a ¼ after that time and a ½ and double time Sunday. The
employers wanted to pay the women 4d over 18
Mrs Fawcett and Mr Jones preside it at a meeting held at the Temperance hall. Women
had gathered an hour before the meeting and the hall was packed. Mrs Fawcett said the
union was asking for a guaranteed hourly rate. ,”They were warranted by the increase in
the cost of living “. The union application had been under consideration by the
Manufacturers association for seven months; arbitration had been offered but had been
refused in April. Now they were told they were munitions workers, what they were going
Page: 14 Source: Sue Tatlow
