Hucknall Cigar Workers' Strike, 3rd July 1917

Striking cigar workers met at Hucknall Co-operative Hall on 3rd July 1917.

“CIGAR MAKERS’ STRIKE.

“HUCKNALL GIRLS RESOLVE TO HOLD OUT.

“An enthusiastic meeting of the employees at Messrs. R. I. Dexter and Sons cigar factory at Hucknall was held on Tuesday afternoon [3rd July 1917] at the Co-operative Hall, a special address on the situation being delivered by Mr. J. Pou, of London, president of the National Cigar Makers’ Federation. Miss Clarke presided, and Miss Atkin, organising secretary, was also present.

“Mr. Pou dealt with the letter from Messrs. R. I. Dexter and Co. which appeared in this journal a fortnight ago. The firm intimated in that letter that had it not been for outside interference the dispute would not have arisen, and the firm were deeply concerned that the new list of prices should be issued by the union. After questioning the reference stating that some of the hands (under the new scale) would receive more than double the extra bonus they had hitherto had and other workers – more skilled, and more valuable – not a 1d. per week extra. Mr. Pou said he did not know why that should concern Messrs. Dexter, especially seeing the workers had agreed to make their demands upon that scale. It did not matter to the firm whether it was a good scale or a bad one. He would like to know what they meant by a satisfactory settlement. Before they came upon the scene and demanded an increase in the prices there was no offer on the part of Messrs. Dexter.

“They also remembered that 18 months ago the employees were out for 26 weeks for a 10 per cent bonus, and they were the last firm to give way. Their sympathy was not very wide, seeing they had issued summonses to three learners, and the cases were to be heard next Saturday [7th July 1917]. Mr. Pou said they were conscious of the justice of their action, and as regards interference, he was of the opinion that if there had not been interference in another direction they might have been at work at the present time. The firm appeared to think that they (the leaders) ought to advise them to go to work on the proposals they had made – proposals they had never asked for.

“There was only a difference of eight per cent percuniarily, and the concessions had been granted in London and other parts with the exception of Leicester, Nottingham, Huddersfield, and Hucknall. The firm of Messrs. Dexter were willing to grant the increase to 20 per cent of their employees, overlooking the other 20 per cent, but they were determined for the benefit to apply to all. There was, he intimated, a limit to their forbearance. They were informed that the strike might last till August, when the Christmas trade came along. His view was that the firm ought to pay the cost of the strike which they had engendered. Their demand was not for the purpose of getting money, but their argument was that the price of commodities had gone up 100 per cent, whereas they were only asking for 25 or 33 per cent. They were resolved to fight the thing through. It was a case of al in or all out, and he was certain they would prove victorious in the end (Applause).

“A resolution to continue the strike, all their demands were conceded was unanimously adopted.”

‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 5th July 1917.