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Birmingham Canal Boatmen: struggle for improved working conditions.
- Thread starter Pedrocut
- Start date
Couldn’t find it when I used the search option. Pity she is listed under Great Men of Birmingham though.
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Brookfields Lad
master brummie
Hi Pedro, can you tell me where the link is that Alfred Ash was Chairman of FMC please. I have read all the articles on here but I can't see a link between Ash and FMC.
Many thanks Bob.
Brookfields Lad
master brummie
Great. An interesting article. Thanks for the posting.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
There is more on the 1923 dispute between the boatmen and FMC that needs to be mentioned.
FMC had threatened to liquidate, and in October the striking boatmen were sent a letter from FMC's solicitors giving formal notice that “as you ceased work without proper notice ten weeks ago, they the company require you to forthwith quit the cabin which you occupied as their servant.” The main reason behind the eviction threat was FMC'S desire to unload the cargoes on to lorries and to deliver them to anxious customers by road. At Braunston alone it was estimated that 1,000 tons of sugar and tea, bound for Birmingham were held up.
Inevitably the boatmen saw this as an act of extreme provocation and at several of the depots they took steps to impede the unloading operation. At Braunston the three boats which FMC had selected were moved from the wharf to the canal proper and the entrance was blocked by four other boats loaded with pitch. FMCS officials attempted to gain access to the boats, but a tug-of-war developed with the boatmen, the latter supported by a crowd of womenfolk who "cheered them and uttered such witticisms as they could think of and deemed appropriate to the occasion. In the stalemate which followed a local truce was called in the hope of a national settlement, but when this proved fruitless a second attempt was made to unload the three boats. On this occasion In September a detechment of police was drafted in to supervise the operation and after some spirited gestures of resistance by the boatmen, celebrated by the hoisting of flags the playing of gramophones and melodeons, and dancing and singing on the towpath, the boats were brought to the wharf and successfully unloaded whilst the canal workers sat on the barges near by and contented themselves with booing and shouting.
The company's determination to distribute strike bound cargoes to its customers led to similar confrontations at other depots, though in the process it raised a fundamental issue of trespass which was to take the dispute, initially. to the High Court, and to an eventual settlement by arbitration.
(Information from The canal boatman's strike 1923 by KB Sherwood. 1986)
Heartland
master brummie
I would have thought Pedrocut might have paid more attention to the strike of May 1920 where boatmen engaged in the coal trade grieved by the lack of wage advancement and engaged in hostile action. At this time the canals were an essential supply of coal for industry and electricity generating stations. Boatman even floated a barge across Gas Street Basin to block the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in their dispute. The electricity supply barges even had police escort it would seem. It was a dispute that was solved, but not without consequence, the tight profit margins came to affect the business of the coal merchant and the patterns of coal transport in the future. Canal coal traffic came to be gradually reduced after that.
This strike had the potential to cause serious destruction to local industry and that new steps are taken such as alternate modes of transport and that trend was reflected in the construction of new power stations where railway access became an important factor and where industry came to reduce or eliminate their fleet of canal boats and purchase road lorries instead,
This strike had the potential to cause serious destruction to local industry and that new steps are taken such as alternate modes of transport and that trend was reflected in the construction of new power stations where railway access became an important factor and where industry came to reduce or eliminate their fleet of canal boats and purchase road lorries instead,
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
I will again point out that the thread is open for anyone to add knowledge, especially an expert like yourself.
So back to 1920, where 2000 men in Birmingham area on strike against refusal of employers, chiefly coal
merchants, to pay a retrospective pay award. Few barges being brought into the city under police protection.
In May 1920 certain of the masters had failed to honour an agreement entered into in January, and further one
in April. 99% of men belong to Docker’s Union. Birmingham Corporation and the Tame and Rea Drainage Board
had paid the increase. But the men indicated they may come out in sympathy.
So back to 1920, where 2000 men in Birmingham area on strike against refusal of employers, chiefly coal
merchants, to pay a retrospective pay award. Few barges being brought into the city under police protection.
In May 1920 certain of the masters had failed to honour an agreement entered into in January, and further one
in April. 99% of men belong to Docker’s Union. Birmingham Corporation and the Tame and Rea Drainage Board
had paid the increase. But the men indicated they may come out in sympathy.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Neville Chamberlain's involvement with the canal boat children.
The Childrens Act of 1908 had excluded canal boat children on the grounds that they were catered for by the Canal Boats Acts.
In May 1919, the Birmingham Conference of Superintendent School Attendance Officers tabled resolution dealing with canal boat children, calling it a national scandal that a large body of children should be denied a reasonable existence, morally, physically and educationally. In August1919 the Transport Workers Federation launched a National Programme for canal workers and a campaign to abolish the practice of living-in on canal boats.The Ministry of Health and the Board of Education appeared to welcome it.
In 1920 an inter-departmental enquiry was set up with Neville Chamberlain as Chair, but did not report until early 1921.The committee recomended that children between 5 and 14 should be prohibited from residing on board during term time. Two members of the committee disagreed strongly with the conclusion, and wanted stricter measures. Chamberlain was upset that this reflected badly on his personal role as Chairman and anything less than a united front would weaken the effect of the report. They modified their tone but still made it clear that the report did not condem the practice of living-in strongly enough.
The report was not implemented, although Chamberlain did raise a question in February 1923 in the Commons, but he was told that it was not the time to impose burdens on any branch of industry. Later in 1923 Chamberlain became Minister of Health for a brief period, but did not pursue the matter.
(information from Canal Boat People, 1840-1970 by Wendy Freer BA. )
The Childrens Act of 1908 had excluded canal boat children on the grounds that they were catered for by the Canal Boats Acts.
In May 1919, the Birmingham Conference of Superintendent School Attendance Officers tabled resolution dealing with canal boat children, calling it a national scandal that a large body of children should be denied a reasonable existence, morally, physically and educationally. In August1919 the Transport Workers Federation launched a National Programme for canal workers and a campaign to abolish the practice of living-in on canal boats.The Ministry of Health and the Board of Education appeared to welcome it.
In 1920 an inter-departmental enquiry was set up with Neville Chamberlain as Chair, but did not report until early 1921.The committee recomended that children between 5 and 14 should be prohibited from residing on board during term time. Two members of the committee disagreed strongly with the conclusion, and wanted stricter measures. Chamberlain was upset that this reflected badly on his personal role as Chairman and anything less than a united front would weaken the effect of the report. They modified their tone but still made it clear that the report did not condem the practice of living-in strongly enough.
The report was not implemented, although Chamberlain did raise a question in February 1923 in the Commons, but he was told that it was not the time to impose burdens on any branch of industry. Later in 1923 Chamberlain became Minister of Health for a brief period, but did not pursue the matter.
(information from Canal Boat People, 1840-1970 by Wendy Freer BA. )
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Neville Chamberlain’s involvement in Hoskins is mentioned under the thread Neville Chamberlain.
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Neville Chamberlain
As a campaign has started to have blue plaques to celebrated Neville Chamberlain, industrialist, politician and a prime minister, there is the concern of him being "air brushed" from history. The appeasement campaign with Adolph Hitler is seen as the main cause for the lack of a blue plaque in...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
I found that interesting thank you, my Grandmother was a Flavell they were a huge family of boatmen.
