Below is the shop stewards page from Greenwich taken from the Autumn 1954 Telcon House Magazine. There were some bits in this which I couldn't read from the pdf - I hope it makes sense anyway!
THE SHOP STEWARDS' PAGE
Introduction.
Stewards, were faced with the problem of what to do about
it. As the committee lacks a George Bernard Shaw, the task appeared likely to prove
extremely difficult. One school of thought was all for leaving the page as bare
as a billiard ball but this didn't seem likely to convey much to our readers so
we tried another angle. "Let us make it a technical page and demonstrate
our mastery of theoretical as well as practical work" we said
What emerged was if the coaxial bearings are made to rotate
in an anti- clockwise direction was in complete contradiction to the thesis
laid down by the Master Mariners' Association, how would the proportion of time
saved be apportioned between Management and Operators.'
This didn't seem likely either to convey much to the average
reader, and it is the floating vote that counts, so off we went on another
tack, "How about a literary effort after all ?". This appealed greatly
to some of us at first but, after careful discussion which produced snippets of
army songs, limericks and postcards from Southend; it was thought that we might
be accused of being- horror take us-highbrow.
So, far into the night, we wrestled with the problem and
eventually agreed upon the following scheme. In each issue we shall introduce to you one of
our members, commencing with our worthy Chairman. If we can we shall .comment
on the problems of the workers as we see them, make a report on the activities
of the Shop Stewards' Committee, and report items of interest from the various
departments. One thing to be borne in mind is that this magazine is by way of
being a family affair and although we shall, if necessary, offer criticism to the
Management, we cannot be too controversial on this page.
In any we can and to do settle out differences through the
usual channels. Our ambition is to help to foster the family feeling within
Telcon by means of these articles and to further cement the existing good
relations.
Introducing the Shop Stewards -Brother Andrews
Bro. Andrews, known to most of us as Andy, is Chairman of
the Shop Stewards' Committee. After having served during the war as an air-gunner
in which capacity he travelled to many parts of the globe, including Egypt and
India, he returned to his trade of
carpentry and joined Telcon in 1949.
Since that time he has taken an active interest in the welfare of his fellow-workers and was elected shop steward of his department in 1951.
He not only gained the confidence of his colleagues but made a deep impression on the Shop Stewards'
Committee, thereby becoming the obvious choice as successor to Bro. Reader for the post of Chairman, when the
latter resigned. Bro. Andrews is
married and has two children, a boy and a girl. As works convener we find in him sympathy and
understanding, together with a sense of
humour, which characterises the man and helps to make him successful in this
difficult role. Chairman's Report . The Shop Stewards' Committee is made up of
all the Stewards in Telcon, and
represents several Unions. The officers are Chairman (A.S.W.), Vice-Chairman (N.U.G.M.W.),
Secretary (A.E.U.) and (N.U.C) we try
to iron out our difficulties, and problems we cannot solve ourselves are taken by the chairman to the appropriate
authority. We also contact our various
Trade Union Branches for advice and information.
Stewards are also represented on the Production Advisory Committee. Here we can bring our views to the
fountain head of authority, and are
given an understanding of the problems facing management in its business of running the
factory efficiently and profitably.
In short we arc a link between workers and management and, within the limits or trade union policy. We
have a great deal of scope. We believe
that co-operation and local negotiation are the most fruitful ways of getting
satisfactory results. We do not always
get our own way as we have to bow down to economic factors just as management has to do, but we
think we can claim a good record of
successful negotiations. We shall continue to serve the workers to the best of our ability,
remembering that without their support,
moral and financial, we, as a committee, shall perish.
Committee Announcements
Lectures in Economics .
Management has accepted the
recommendation of the Production Advisory Committee and has arranged a series
of lectures dealing with basic
economies. These will begin in October. We ask all workers to attend and acquaint
themselves with the vital problems
concerning our everyday lives.
Shop Stewards' Fund .
The Committee earnestly request continuous and increasing support to their fund in the customary
manner. It is important to have a
reasonable capital to maintain the service we strive to render to all members.
Tinfoil The
management has placed a box by the main gate for the collection of tinfoil. It
is hoped that all workers will co-operate in this work as the proceeds will go to the Cancer Research
Fund or other deserving charity.
Management and Labour Relations There have been, and no doubt will be,
millions of words spoken and written on
this very controversial subject, and we often hear or read of the causes of industrial strife,
as well as the proposed remedies for
them.
Will there ever be a way to industrial peace? Why do some industries have more labour troubles than
others? These questions always come up for discussion at some time or another,
both in managerial and trade union
circles
Each and every one of us in the Telcon organisation should
give some serious thought to this
problem, because the state of Management-Labour relation depends upon us all.
The better this relationship, the
better the chance of the Telcon organisation becoming more prosperous to the ultimate
benefit of all concerned. There is no
set formula or code laid down, nor can there be for solving automatically all the problems at one
sweep but there are several points
which should be considered and which would, in our opinion, make for sound Management-Labour
relations.
At Telcon this relationship is in a fairly healthy
condition. Serious disputes do not
arise, as we have our various agreements. We have our Welfare and Personnel Department and a very capable
Personnel Officer, ready to hear our
troubles be they personal, domestic, legal, Management and Labour, or what have you, and to help and
advise us regarding them. Several other
committees meet regularly, namely the Departmental Production Committees, Foremen's Committee, Staff Association Council, Shop Stewards'
Committee, Sports and Sick Club
Committees. All this contributes towards the good relations between Management and Labour, but
have we reached the criterion? What can
be done in industry to make for really permanently
peaceful Management and Labour relations?
There are several points upon which we shall comment in the Shop Stewards' Page of subsequent issues of
this our House Magazine at Telcon, chiefly under the following headings:-
1 Should
management accept the unions as permanent institutions having a positive value
to industry and industrial relations?
2. Should
careful consideration be given to human relations and brains and money devoted to a tip-top
Personnel Department?
3, Should
Trade Unions be responsible to the rank and file of workers and management accept and recognise
this position?
4. Should
Management and Unions be in close communication ready to discuss anything any time anywhere?
5. Should
Management and Unions seek a way to accommodate differences and try to settle,
differences or problems on their merits
as they arise with union officials taken into confidence on all problems?
We think these points will give enough material. and food
for thought and we hope our forthcoming
comments will at least make interesting
reading.
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