TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION P. 793 



the increased cost of working appliances and the internal economies of a factory 

 where subdivision of occupations has free scope to hasten the advent of a factory 

 type of industrial organisation pure and simple. 



5. Trade Unionism in the Tinplaie Industry, By J. H. Jones, M.A, 



The first association of employees in the tinplate industry was formed during 

 the period of rapid expansion 1870-73. In ] 873 workmen demanded the uniformity 

 of wages at increased rates, but tlie time was ill-chosen. Uniformity was 

 obtained in the following year, but in the majority of cases at reduced rates. 

 There is no evidence of a continuous association before 1887, but there appears 

 to have been a number of temporary combinations. The first association consisted 

 of workers in the iron forges, tinplate rolling-mills, and the finishing departments, 

 IJetween 1883 and 1886 steel displaced iron as the raw material for tinplates, 

 and a cleavage followed of the steel-workers and tinplate makers. The steel- 

 workers formed an independent association. 



The union from 1887-98 was one of tinplate millmen and workers in the 

 finishing departments. It was merely a wage-protective association, and its 

 energies were directed mainly to (1) maintaining the wages rate agreed upon in 

 1874; (2) preventing the introduction of new machinery; (3) restricting the 

 output. 



Until the McKinley duty came into operation in 1891, U.S.A. was the chief 

 buyer of tinplates from South Wales. The loss of this market caused severe 

 depression for about six years, and it also resulted in a change in the character 

 of the product. The trade in black plate {i.e., untinned sheets) and sheet steel 

 was developed. This pressed hardly on the tinhousemen, who fought against the 

 working of black plate. Further to reduce cost of production, new machinery 

 was introduced, which displaced some labour in the tiuhouse and mechanised the 

 labour of some of those not displaced. Thus there was a division of interests 

 between millmen and tinhousemen. Disputes were generally over the conditions 

 of work in the tinning mills, but the cost of them was borne mainly by those 

 employed in the rolling mills. Other causes of dissatisfaction at this time were-- 



(a) The lack of funds to fight whenever necessary. Bad administration 

 reduced the union to a penniless state and alienated a section of the men. 



(b) The leaders granted reductions to individual employers, varying from 

 10 per cent, to 30 per cent. In this way they lost the confidence of the body of 

 employers. 



The wage-protective association collapsed in 1898. 



The millmen were convinced that an association from which tinhousemen 

 should be excluded was necessary. Some became members of the Steel Smelters' 

 Association ; the remainder, fearing to be the weaker section of a strong union, 

 formed the independent ' Tin and Sheet Mlllmen's Association.' 



The employees in the finishing departments joined either the National Union of 

 Gasworkers and General Labourers, or the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General 

 Workers* Union. Consequently in 1 899 there were four workmen's associations 

 connected with the trade, where previously there had been one. In the same year 

 the Employers' Association, which was formed in 1873, was reformed, and a 

 Conciliation Board established. This Board possessed no constitution, and there 

 was no provision for cases of failure of conciliation. The first task of the Board 

 was to establish a uniform rate of wages ; and as the year was a very prosperous 

 one the workers' associations found little difiiculty in obtaining the" '1874 list.' 

 The agreement was renewed annually, and remains in force to-day, with but 

 a few changes in rates paid to labourers Mhose tasks have varied slightly in 

 difiiculty. 



To facilitate collective bargaining, the 'Tinplate and Sheet Jlillworkers' Wages 

 and Disputes Board ' was formed in 1901. This Board consisted of three repre- 

 sentatives from each of the workmen's societies. All grievances of the men were 

 to be submitted to the Disputes Board, and through the Board to the Conciliation 



