As
the works has grown these numbers have increased to twenty (who are
all trade unionists and shop stewards) and four respectively. A shop
superintendent and two foremen also attend the meetings, which are
held in working hours.
 The original
constitution gave the object as "to promote a close feeling between
the management and all employees, and to work in conjunction for the
mutual benefit of all". In fact, every matter that affects conditions
of employment, welfare, or relations with the management is discussed;
the only exceptions are questions having a national aspect, which
are left to employers' federations and trade unions, though the committee
may and does deal with the interpretation of agreements.
The committee
has been successful in promoting the welfare of workmen, but perhaps
its most important function has been to provide a platform for the
discussion of grievances from either side. These have frequently been
prevented from developing into serious causes of friction, and many
complaints that would not bear neglect even for a day or two have
been settled by the chairman or secretary on the spot. One other important
function has been to enable the management to discuss with the whole
works, by proxy, any matters affecting the prosperity of the Company,
to explain actions that have been difficult to understand, and to
ask for the support of the workpeople in matters vital to the general
welfare.
The
first chairman of the works committee, Sam Ratcliffe, was a sound
trade unionist who became a well-known figure during his twenty-six
years in office, and the first secretary was T. Brookes. Ratcliffe
was succeeded by Fred Lee, who since 1945 has been M.P. for Hulme
and is now Parliamentary Private Secretary to Sir Stafford Cripps.
Other ex-members of the committee are Ellis Smith, M.P. for Stoke
since 1926 and sometime Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of
Trade, and Ben Gardner, now general secretary of the A.E.U.
The
staff committee was formed in October 1917 "to represent staff
employees of the Company and to work in furtherance of their interests
and those of the management". Engineers and technicians, draughtsmen,
sales correspondents, general office staff, and others (but not
foremen, who had their own association) elected delegates from the
various departments, and these chose members to represent them on
the committee. Originally there were eleven committee members (including
two women), taken from forty-seven delegates, together with two
management representatives. Early meetings dealt with questions
such as office lighting, decorating, ventilating and heating, train
and tram services, cycle accommodation and canteen facilities, and
these are still typical of the week-to-week work.
Benevolent
and pension schemes were yet to come, but a foretaste was the B.W.
'approved society' inaugurated in 1912. This supplemented the benefits
from Lloyd George's National Insurance Act, which had just come
into force, and provided for surgical, dental, optical and convalescent
treatment. It lasted until February 1948 when it was taken over
by the Ministry of National Insurance in view of the coming national
health scheme.
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