Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

These terms were accepted by the Guards who withdrew their threat of mass resignations. February On Sunday the 4 th , there was yet another meeting in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, this time it was for the Drivers, Firemen and Guards, in order to discuss the ‘broken’ arrangements made with the L & Y during 1867 on limiting the working day to 10 hours. It was stated that the Chairman of the Company had guaranteed that the working day would not be longer than 10 hours, but many of the classes of workmen in attendance were working 15 and even 16 hours without even a meal break, and for no extra pay. A resolution was moved, “That in consequence of the irregular and unsatisfactory way in which the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway has exercised the agreement of 1867 between them and the engine drivers, it was high time that the Company reconsidered the terms of this agreement, with a view to improving in a ratio to that which has been accrued by employees in other industries”. This resolution was unanimously passed, and a deputation appointed to meet with the directors of the L & Y in order to thrash out this issue. At a meeting of the Accrington Local Board, a letter was received from the Secretary of the Preston Board, stating they were to oppose the Bill passing through Parliament allowing the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to merge with the London & North Western Company. There was a discussion about whether such an amalgamation would result in reduced charges for the purveyors of merchandise and for passengers. According to the Chairman, Mr Boothman, they were slaves to the edicts of the L & Y and it was almost impossible to get a siding at Accrington Station as it was so congested. Mr Green asked, “Will this be eased when we get our new branch line?” Mr Riley recommended a motion that Messrs Rhodes, Boothman, Green, Grimes and Hargreaves, should organise a petition to oppose this merger. Mr Keenan, a fruiterer at Accrington Market Hall, was awarded £6 court fees after he successfully received compensation £3 for perishable goods delayed in transit from Liverpool by the L & Y. On the 24 th the Midland Railway officially declined the suggestion by Crawshawbooth Local Board, that they construct a branch line from Rawtenstall to Crawshawbooth, at least until the outcome of the proposed merger between the L & Y and the L&NWR had been resolved. March At a meeting held at the Lamb Inn in Salford the clerks of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company, it was resolved to ask for an increase in 20% in pay for every one employed in this capacity. They had recently received an increase of 1 shilling per week, and were discontented that this had come at a time when the amount of goods which required processing had increased enormously. A minute was passed that a national union should be formed based on the local Manchester example, embracing employees of all the railway operating companies. A memo was also passed to the directors of the L & Y for the ticket collectors, passenger porters and railway police asking for as follows - 1. A 10 hour working day with overtime for hours over this time. The Oswaldtwistle Local Board was addressed by Mr Charles Hall, a lawyer from Accrington, who spoke in favour of the proposed merger of the L & Y with the London & North Western Railway. He pointed out that with a merger of the two companies, access to the L&NWR’s metals would increase capacity by 1,500 miles. He said that at that time the tolls levied by the L & Y were 20% higher than those of the rival company, and if the Bill was passed through Parliament the duplicate 6-mile charges would be abolished, so that Accrington would become a major junction on the enlarged system. There would also be an improvement in the standard of the passenger and freight rolling stock, and a widening range of destinations made available without a change of trains and tickets. Mr Blythe welcomed any move which would result in a reduction in charges made for the movement of goods. The merger would have been popular with businessmen as the L&NWR charged the same rate for the carriage of bales of finished cloth as they did for the raw materials, whereas the L & Y charged an enhanced rate for finished goods. Mr Hall was also of the opinion that the Local Board should support his petition, but was sure he would hear objections from Mr Boothman of the Accrington Board, who was vehemently opposed to the proposed amalgamation. 2. A working week of 60 hours covering six working days. 3. That Sundays would be limited to an 8 hour working day. 4. That there should be an extra 2 shillings and 6 pence in wages, with no loss of holiday entitlement.

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