Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union - Rushden, Higham, Raunds and Irthlingborough Branch
Threatened Crisis in the District – A Drastic Resolution
A resolution of a most important character, and one that may have very far-reaching results, was passed unanimously at the monthly meeting of the Rushden, Higham, Irthlingborough and Raunds District Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union, held on Monday evening at the Trade Union Club, Rushden. Councillor C Bates presided, supported by Councillor W Bazeley (secretary) and the Branch Executive. The resolution was in the following terms:-

That this meeting of the Higham and Rushden Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives’ Union, having had the sanction of our Council to send notices to the manufacturers of Higham, Rushden and Irthlingborough in October 1907, re the 30s minimum and quantities statement, also the formation of an Arbitration Board, and every effort of our Branch Executive having failed with the manufacturers since that date to bring about these conditions, we now request the Council to take more drastic steps by fixing a very early date for the resolutions previously sanctioned to be put into operation failing which our members be asked to hand in their notices.

The Secretary was instructed to send in a copy to the central Office at once.

Trade Council
It was resolved that a joint meeting be called of representatives of the various trade union societies to consider the formation of a Trade Council for Rushden and the district, and to report at a future meeting.

The Unemployed Bill
The Secretary was instructed to write to the Prime Minister, Sir F A Channing, M.P., and Mr Ramsey Macdonald, M.P., asking them to support the Unemployed Bill, which is to be introduced on March 18th.

Voting
took place for delegates to the biennial conference of the Union, to be held at Rushden in Whit-week.

Shop’s Meetings at Rushden and Higham - Mr C W Horrell’s Employees
Last night a meeting of the employees of Mr C W Horrell, of Rushden, was held at the College-street Schools at the instance of the local branch of the Shoe Operative’s Union. Mr W Bazeley, secretary of the Branch, presided over a large attendance, and was supported by members of the Branch Executive.

The Chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to inform the employees as to the visit to the town on Tuesday last of the general president and Council Member Gribble. At that visit the position of matters with regard to the movement for obtaining a minimum wage of 30s. was discussed and the General President said that if the manufacturers refused to negotiate there was nothing left but to fight them. Negotiations would proceed without resorting to a strike, if possible, but in the meantime meetings of the employees of the various firms would be held and steps would be taken to ascertain the number of unionists working in the various shops, so as to know the liability of the Union and of the General Federation in the event of a general strike.

After the Chairman’s statement, the conditions of employment in the factory were discussed, and a return was prepared as to the number of union members concerned. [Higham Meeting]

Boot and Shoe Operatives Union
Higham, Rushden, Irthlingborough and Raunds District Branch
The third ballot for the election of a whole time vice-president of the branch took place this week, the candidates being Mr. William Langley, of Irthlingborough, and Mr. E. Batchelor, of Raunds. On the first ballot neither obtained a clear majority of the votes recorded, and a second ballot took place, which, our readers will remember, resulted in a tie.

The votes in the third ballot were counted on Wednesday, with the following result:-

Shoe Trade and Unemployment—At the monthly meeting of the Rushden and District branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives, Mr. W. Langley (vice-president) occupied the chair, supported by Mr. W. Bazeley, J.P. (branch secretary), and the branch executive. A circular was received from the Labour Exchange with regard to the inclusion of the boot and leather trades in the operations of the Government’s Unemployed Act. A long discussion took place with regard to the circular, after which it was unanimously resolved "That this meeting strongly protest against the inclusion of our trade in the Government scheme regarding unemployment, as they consider it very unsatisfactory. They instruct the secretary to forward a copy of the resolution to the general secretary of the Union, and assure the Executive Committee that this branch will support them in their endeavours to prevent the shoe trade being included."

Voting took place for various Union officers, and the counting will take place on Aug. 12th. It was reported that the extra 7 per cent bonus had been agreed to for the duration of the war by the County Arbitration Board, and the members of the branch fully appreciated the question being settled amicably by the Joint Board, without the matter having to be sent to an umpire.

The membership of the Rushden & Higham branch of the Boot Operatives Union now stands at 6,539.

Mr T F Richards, General president of the Boot & Shoe Operatives' Union says he knows of no such cases where, as recently alleged, men are being kept out of re-engagement on discharge from the army ........

News Nuggets
The membership of the National Union of Boot Operatives has risen from 49,000 to 90,000 during the war period.

Boot Trade Unemployment
The National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives are still paying out a considerable amount of unemployment pay. From the end of June, 1920, to the end of February of this year £73,887 has been paid from the Union’s funds, compared with £86,468 paid in the previous 13 years. In addition the Union is now paying large sums of money weekly on behalf of the Government, as the Union is administering on behalf of the Ministry of Labour the Unemployment Act. For the last month over 11,000 members signed the Union’s out-of-work books, and over £14,000 was paid in benefit from Union funds, this in addition to the State benefit.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 5th March 1957 , transcribed by Sue Comont

Shift working on moulded footwear began yesterday at John Whites. Shifts only apply to workers engaged on actual moulding process – attaching rubber sole and heel to leather upper. Shifts from 6am – 2pm and 2pm – 10pm have been agreed with NUBSO.

Concern In Shoe Trade
Under employment at some of the local factories was discussed at Monday's meeting of the Rushden branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives.

"We are hoping it is a passing phase," said Mr. W. G. T. Jones, branch president, on Tuesday, "but it is giving concern to the operatives."

The amount of out-of-work benefit paid out by the branch last quarter was £296. Contributions from a membership of 8,749 totalled £6,745 and sickness benefit amounted to £1,997

Monday's meeting decided to send a message of encouragement to the bus strikers in London.

It was reported that the branch secretary, Mr. Ralph Abbott, who left hospital last Friday, was making good progress.

Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 12th January 1960 , transcribed by Sue Comont

Northampton Chronicle & Echo, 30th May 1967 , transcribed by Sue Comont

NUBSO conference heard grave doubts expressed about extension of shift work as this would aggravate current overproduction. Machinery on which shift work was done, had resulted in redundancy.

Shoe manufacturers in Rushden and Wellingborough areas were accused of apathy towards the training of young workers. Attack was led by Jack Tear, member of Rushden and Wellingborough Recruitment and Training Committee. He said recruitment was poor and numbers trained shocking.

Of year ended 31 July 1966, of 92 boys under 18 who entered the industry in the area, 73 or 4 out of 5, left within the year and girls were worse – 67 entering and 68 leaving [sic]. On the training side in the same period, the area employed 147 boys up to the age of 18 and 51% attended day release classes. Out of 176 girls, 35 attended classes.

From Sep 1966 the area would adopt the 5 week block release course for boys. Most of the shoe firms did not support it though as they said it caused difficulty.