Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

November The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and the Tramway Manager submitted an application from the employees on the tramway for a suspension of all services on Christmas Day. It was resolved he should make whatever arrangements he thought proper after he had consulted with his fellow managers at the adjacent undertakings. It became known that a much larger undertaking had made an approach to Harry Pilling, to accept the job of general manager of their tramway such was the high esteem in which he was held. The Chairman referred to the advisability of retaining the services of Mr Pilling for a good number of years, as there was a ‘probability’ that he might be tempted away. It was resolved that from December 1 st his salary should be increased from £400 to £500 per annum, which he accepted. The General Purposes Committee met when the Borough Treasurer reported upon the recent arbitration before the Committee on Production, for an increase in bonus from the Tramway Workers’ Association. The Town Clerk reported on the recommendation from the Electrical & Tramways Committee for an increase in the salary of the Tramway Manager. It was moved and seconded that Mr Pilling’s salary should be increased from £400 to £500 per annum from December 1 st , providing he would not seek employment elsewhere for at least two years. However, an amendment was moved and seconded that no increase in salary would be considered until the usual revue next March. On a vote this motion was defeated and the original motion was declared and passed to allow the increase in salary. December The Town Council met when it was resolved to confirm the minutes of the Electricity & Tramways Committee held on November 21 st along with those of the General Purposes Committee during November with regard to an increase in salary for the Tramway Manager. At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee, the Tramway Manager reported that the employees in the depot had indicated it was not their intention to work on Christmas Day. It was that in the interests of the travelling public they wished to record their ‘great dissatisfaction’ with this attitude, especially since they had all sought employment with the Corporation’s Tramway Department, knowing full well that the service was expected to operate on Christmas Days. The Watch Committee met when it was resolved in order to relieve the congestion of traffic along Blackburn Road on the narrow pavement between Birch Street and Eagle Street, the Electrical & Tramways Committee should consider the advisability in future, of arranging for the tram cars to stop on the viaduct side of Eagle Street instead of on the Town Hall (easterly) side. 1919 (With peace restored the conflict continued on the industrial front with the Unions flexing their power and the authorities in a mood to resist due to the increasing costs of operating the tramway. At last due to the generosity of one man a shelter would be built for the convenience of the tramway passengers.) January The Electricity & Tramways Committee met to receive a submission from the Tramway Manager that the employees who had walked out on strike, causing a temporary cessation of the tramway services, were applying for a payment of wages for the time when they had been off duty. It was resolved not to allow them payment for the time the service was suspended. It was then resolved to allow dogs to travel on the top decks of the tramcars, subject of course to the payment of a fare. It was further resolved that there should be notices posted on all the tramcars warning passengers against the use of foul language, stating that all offenders would face prosecution. Following this the following correspondence was received - To the Tramway Manager, Accrington Corporation Tramways. Dear Sir, enclosed is a copy I have received from Mr Robert Williams, the General Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Federation - Dear Sir, as indicated at the Conference held on the 20 th , I am directed by the affiliated Unions catering for tramway and omnibus employees, to make the following applications for the following variations in working hours. (1) That the working week should be 44 hours inclusive of signing on and off.

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