AN EXTRACT
FROM SOGAT JOURNAL - FEBRUARY 1983
200 YEARS OF HISTORY
Tebbit's laws are nothing to what we have faced and
overcome before when, for instance,
members were imprisoned for asking for a pay increase.
"BLOODY BLACK JACK" GAOLS THE TIMES PRESSMEN
THE way of the trade unionist in the eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries was rough and full of danger. The Combination Acts then in force made
it an offence for workers to combine to advance wages, or reduce hours, or to
affect in any way those who carried on any manufacture of trade.
Offenders might be convicted and committed to gaol for a period not exceeding three months, or sent to hard labour for two months. These Acts, although they contained clauses applicable to employers as well as employees, were in practice never applied to employers, even when they combined to depress wages.
They were in fact used solely as instruments to persecute the workers, who were instinctively, combining to prevent their standard of life from being cruelly debased by the growth of industrialism.
Earlier statutes, before the Acts of 1799 and 1800, had already made combination of working men or women illegal (as was shown in the prosecution of the early London Bookbinders recorded in 1787) but Parliament did in those earlier times recognise the obligation resting upon itself and upon the Courts to regulate wages and conditions.
CLASS
LAWS
When this legislative protection was swept away, the Acts of 1799 and 1800, lasting until 1824, became a piece of shameless class legislation.
As an illustration of what has just been written the observations of Francis
Place, a Member of Parliament, and a 'great reformer' of the early nineteenth
century, may be cited. He said concerning the prosecution in 1810 of the
printers employed on The Times:
"The cruel persecutions of the Journeymen Printers employed on the Times newspaper in 1810 were carried to an almost incredible extent. The judge who tried and sentenced some of them was the Common Sergeant of London, Sir John Sylvester, commonly known by the cognomen of 'Bloody Black Jack' …. No judge took more pains than did this judge of the unfortunate printers, to make it appear that their offence was one of great enormity, to beat down and alarm the really respectable men who had fallen into his clutches, and on whom lie inflicted scandalously severe sentences. "
And, as so often happens when repressive measures are introduced, the Combination Act, designed to destroy the trade unions, did in fact strengthen the sense of solidarity among them.
George White, "the energetic clerk to the Hume Committee", a Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry into Combinations of workmen and other matters, appointed in 1824, of which
Joseph Hume, MP was chairman) said that the Act of 1800 had been "in general a dead letter upon those artisans upon whom it was intended to hive ail effect - namely, the shoemakers, printers, papermakers, shipbuilders. tailors, etc, who have had their regular' Societies and Houses of Call, as though no such Act was in existence."
Although the journeymen printers, or the early combination of pressmen were among the earliest to organise in a trade union, little is known of the early years, since because of the Combination Acts, records were either not kept at all or kept in secret because of fear of prosecution.
The earliest recorded evidence shows that the London Union of Pressmen was established in 1834, but ill fact present-day research (still being carried out) has established that 'Lodge Companionships' did exist in 1798, when five of the pressmen's leader's were sentenced to two years imprisonment for 'conspiracy' in attempting to secure a restriction of the number of apprentices.
They were members, of a Trade Society of Pressmen which held its meetings at 'the Crown' near St. Dunstan's Church. Fleet Street, and it was stated by the prosecution that "by means of some wicked men among them, this Society deregenerated into a most abominable meeting for the purpose of a conspiracy."
The Times was
established on 1st January 1785, under the name of Daily
Universal Register. On 1st January 1788, at its 940th
number, it changed its title to The Times or Daily Universal Register.
The introduction of the Stanhope Press (above) in 1800 led to an average
production of 150 completed copies per hour.
Further to this we have the observations of Francis Place on the Prosecution of the compositors and pressmen in 1810 who, despite the repressive registration of the time, submitted a wage claim for an increase in tile weekly wage of four shillings a week. This resulted in 21 of their number receiving fines, and imprisonment in Newgate Goal of between 9 months and two years.
Front the notes of the trial at the Old Bailey oil Thursday, 8th November 1810, Stephen Hurley Robert Howlett. Roderic Paskin, John Gee Edward Kidd. William Clifton, Stephen Becket, Guy Warwick. Thomas Woolley, Henry Byrne, William Williams, Corbett Latham, William Cay, James McCartney, Nathaniel Collins, Malcolm Craig, John Chapman, George Westray, William Wcntworth and John Simpson, pressmen and compositors on the establishment of 7lhe Times newspaper, were indicated for 'combining 'and conspiring together maliciously to injure their masters, and employers by quitting their work on account of their demands for an increase of wages not being, acceded to.
A Mr. Alley, prosecuting, stated the case for the prosecution, conceiving it to be a case which called for the best attention which the jury could give to it and contending that the issue which they had to try between the country and the prisoners was one, which of utmost importance to society.
He would produce a cloud of witnesses to prove to their perfect satisfaction that every person then at the bar was guilty of a combination, not only for the purpose of getting an increase of wages for themselves, but to prevent others from working at the accustomed prices, and that the gentlemen of the jury must know that The Times was a diurnal newspaper, and that an incalculable injury might be done to the establishment by workmen refusing to work for a single night.
He then indicated that the prisoners had made no demand for an increase of wages until some men from the office of The Day called upon them in May, telling them "they hoped they would ask for an advance of wages as others had done; that they had new opportunity of retrieving their character; and if they did not do so they would l be looked upon as 'rats', as they always had been." The Day men told them there was an association formed into which they admitted if they demand the increase.
The compositors agreed to make the demand too, and to give notice leaving their employment if it was not acceded to. This notice was accordingly given the next day, and the day, after the pressmen sent a similar notice. Mr. Walter, the acting proprietor, was excessively surprised it this notice as he stated he had granted them many indulgences and had done everything that kind master could do to make their situation comfortable.
Nevertheless, 28 of his men did actually leave him. He stated that he had often, in the course of his practice witnessed combinations, among workmen, without however any particular mischief being intended to their master.
'MALICE'
The prosecutor then went on to say that lie would show that the malice of the men was so great that, on the morning that they quitted their employment, it was proposed to "bishop the balls', which meant to wet the balls used for blacking the types with water, so as to make them unserviceable for some time.
Mr. Alley went on further to say, "a witness of the name of Beveridge would prove to the jury that he had been invited to attend a meeting at the Coach and Horses in Water Lane, where he found a meeting which pretended to be a charitable or friendly Society, but where in fact contributions were made to support those workmen who were out of employ in consequence of their, striking for an increase of wages."
Among the resolutions of this conclave, they had even dared to record in their books that no man should, for six months, work in the place of any person who struck on account of the increase being refused him.
At this point in the trial, Mr. John Walter stated that he and his father were proprietors of The Times newspaper and that all the prisoners were in their employ, and it was not to him personally, or in his presence, that the men demanded the increase of wages, but after notice given to Mr. Crowe and Mr. Street, publishers.
The prisoners left his work upon the 28th of May. The compositors had given their notice of quitting on 12th May and the pressmen on the 14th May, the former therefore quitting him on 26th May and the latter on 25th May, Westray, Simpson and Wentworth, compositors, quitting him on 29th May.
Considerable further evidence was produced by the prosecution, not only on a conspiracy to
raise wages, but a conspiracy to perpetuate murder by perjury, indicating plots to obtain the arrest of men in the dead of night from the Lord Mayor on the false charge that two men still working were deserters from the navy.
The prosecution even went for the landlords of the public houses in which the prisoners met. To quote the Common Sergeant in his summing up, which lasted one and three quarter hours, "It appeared too that these gentlemen had private rooms in public houses, with the cognizance of the landlords, for the furtherance of their pernicious purposes; it would be for the magistrates thereafter to consider whether such landlords ought to have a renewal of their licence."
Having given some of the background insofar as the proprietors and the Crown were concerned, just what was it that the companionships of both compositors and pressmen were asking which caused such indictments to he brought against them. It seems to be an increase in wages of four shillings per week, as already agreed to within the printing houses.
Bearing in mind, as indicated earlier, that a combination of employers was just as illegal as a combination of workers, it was quite clearly admitted at the trial that there was a Standing Committee of Master Printers.
DECENCY
Although Mr. John Walter, on being cross-examined by Mr. Gurney, the prisoners' QC, said that he admitted that in making a communication with one of the prisoners, Mr. Westray, who was acting as foreman of the Companionship. Westray had behaved himself with decency and respect. He said he conceived it his duty to make the communication, he could not recollect whether he had or had not said that they might strike or leave his employment if they thought it proper, or whether he had shown Westray a letter from the Committee of Master Printers indicating an increase in wages.
But he knew that there was an agreement among the trade to give an advance of four shillings a week to the compositors of the first class, and he was therefore disposed to give half to the compositors of the duplicate. It was upon that principle that he had before offered an increase of 18 pence when he supposed that three shillings was to be the increase to the other class of pressmen.
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THIS article concerns the early nineteenth century
'Companionships' of Pressmen and Compositors. Their persecution in 1810, and
the earlier prosecution in 1798, are still being investigated. The present article has been based solely on
reported transcripts of the trial held at the Old Bailey on 8th and 11th
November 1810. If any member has any knowledge of literature or any recorded
facts on either prosecutions 1 would be most grateful for their help. On the facts so far gathered 1 would like to
express my appreciation for the help and assistance given by The Times
management and library staff. By BOB FINCH |
Mr. Street, the publisher of The Times remembered some of the pressmen having applied through him for an increase and that upon communicating with Mr. Walter, he had acceded to the increase on one part of their work, but not on other work. He further agreed that 14 days' notice (which had been given by the men) was the usual one in the trade and that the wages of the pressmen amounted to 13 shillings per week, and their hours of work were, on average, between 15 and 16 one day and between 10 and 11 the next.
Trying to put all the facts together. 173 years on, bearing in mind there were indications at the trial that the increase asked for was being paid within the trade, proper notice being given before their withdrawal of labour, the summing up by the Recorder and the sentences he passed certainly indicate a cruel persecution - not I suspect for asking for an increase or for striking, but because they combined together to achieve it.
At the Old Bailey on 11th December 1810. the address and sentence were pronounced.
11th December, 1810, Old Bailey
The recorder addressed the prisoners (19 of the 2 1 charged on 8th November, 1810) to the effect:
"Prisoners you have been convicted of a most wicked conspiracy to injure the most vital interests of those very employers who give you bread, with intent to impede and injure them in their business and indeed, is far as in you lay, to effect their ruin. 'The frequency of such crimes amongst men of your class in life, and their mischievous and dangerous tendency to ruin the fortunes of those employers which in principle of gratitude and self-interest should induce you to support, demand of the law, that a severe example should be made of those persons who shall be convicted of such daring, and flagitious combinations, in defiance of public justice, and in violation of social order. No symptom of contrition on your part has appeared - no abatement of the combination in which you are accomplices has yet resulted from the example of you conviction. Persons of you description must be taught to feel the effects of that contumacy in which they presume to wrestle with the laws of the land, and to set tip their daring combinations and edicts against the good order and well being of society, and the interests of honest industry in this country."
The Judge then passed the following sentences oil the prisoners respectively:
Stephen Hurley
Fined 1/- 12 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Robert Howlett
Fined 1/- 2 Years imprisonment. Newgate.
Roderic Paskin
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
John Gee
Fined 1/- 2 years imprisonment, Newgate.
Edward Kidd
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment. Newgate.
William Clifton
Fined 1/- 18 month. imprisonment, Newgate.
Stcphen Becket
Fined 1/- 18 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Guy Warwick
Thomas Woolley
Fined 1/- 12 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Henry Byrne
Fined 1/- 12 months imprisonment, Newgate.
William Williams
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Corbett Latham
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
William Cay
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
James McCartney
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
John Mackintosh
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Nathaniel Collins
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
Malcolm Graig
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate
John Chapman
Fined 1/- 9monyhs imprisonment, Newgate.
George Westray
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment, Newgate.
William Wentwovth
John Simpson
Fined 1/- 9 months imprisonment. Newgate.
The Printing Machine Branch of the Old National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paperworkers (SOGAT '75 now SOGAT '82) celebrated the Pressmen's Centenary in 1934 with a dinner. The souvenir programme said that the Pressmen's Union was the first real attempt to co-ordinate the activities of the Guilds or Gifts which had been in existence for many years prior to that date.
The Gifts were small groups each associated with a certain public house, such as the Punch Bowl, the Gentlemen and Porter, and the Forty Thieves. The latter, we have on the authority of the souvenir programme, "was an exclusive society comprising of forty members at whose meetings forty pot of ale and forty 'screws' of shag were religiously placed before them at the commencement of their proceedings."
Accused of conspiracy 'to ruin' the employers, 21
Times employees were fined and imprisoned in Newgate goal.
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Taken from
" A History of the Times" newspaper John Walter 11 Owner of The Times 1810 A man without personal vanity, Walter was hard with himself, strict with others; he was typical indeed of English mercalilism in the early nineteenth century. He never tolerated "combinations" of workmen, and in 18 10 successfully broke a strike in which twenty-eight of his printers walked out. An individualist he was utterly unable to understand trade unions. He denounced the Printers' Pension Fund and refused to support the fund for unfortunate journalists on the ground that both printers and journalists should, because they were able, themselves assume the responsibilities which were plainly theirs, and not look for extraneous support. "I see no claim that gentlemen connected with the newspaper press have upon the public" Printing House Square he pointed out, had established mutual aid societies for these very objects; a rule was laid down that every artisan in the establishment should place a tenth of his income in The Savings Bank". He was full of that instinctive and rigid morality which acclaimed the virtue consistent hard work, of habitual personal thrift and self-reliance. |