This is the eleventh letter that Ada Nield Chew sent to the Crewe Chronicle on the 25th August 1894.
Sir, — Please allow me to acquaint Chronicle readers with some events which have taken place in one of the Crewe factories since the disclosure, on July 26th, of my identity the writer of the letters on ‘Life in a Crewe Factory’ which have appeared in the Chronicle. On Saturday morning, 4th August, a private meeting of some duration was held in the tea-room by the married women, at which the manager was present. One of the two men who have charge of the finishers kept guard at the tea-room door. On seeing and hearing the girls express amongst themselves their natural interest in and amusement at the proceedings this gentleman left the door, and came round expostulating with some warmth. The object of the meeting was kept secret. Whether what I shall now relate was an effect of any discussion and resolution arrived at that meeting I shall leave my readers to judge The following Monday was Bank Holiday. On Tuesday morning almost as soon as we had begun work a tailor employed in the factory was summarily discharged. I want to ask you, in justice to this tailor, to consider his case on its merits as I will show it to you, and to give your verdict, which I do not fear, as to whether his dismissal was justifiable one.
He had been in the employ of the firm a number of years. He was acknowledged by them to be a clever and careful work man, and a most useful and capable man. But it is also a fact he was known to hold advanced views on things in general, and what is also worthy of notice he has never been heard to express any disapproval of the letters on factory life which were published by the Chronicle. On the contrary, he has been suspected, and I myself have heard him accused, of assisting me to produce those letters. I have repeatedly and emphatically denied this, both publicly and privately, but seemingly without the slightest effect in convincing those in authority that what I say is true.
I shall also be obliged to confess that this unfortunate tailor has without doubt been guilty of speaking quite frequently and without showing any disrespect, to the writer of the letters, I am aware that some excuse was found for his dismissal; but I think in view of what I have just shown, that the public will not need much convincing as to what was the cause of that dismissal.
During this same Tuesday morning rumours of impending changes were rife in the factory, and one of the men who pass the finishers’ work hinted very strongly to several of the girls that they were about to be discharged. I, on hearing this, and after the dismissal of the tailor, at which I naturally felt indignant — though not, I am sorry to say, surprised — thought that the discharging of a number was probably the method which was to be adopted as a means of getting rid of me. As I hinted very plainly in my second letter, I expected that if ever l were identified some means would be found of compelling me to leave. But I never thought that I should be the means of bringing misfortune on a number of innocent girls. On hearing these rumours, therefore, I naturally felt anxious to prevent the discharge of other girls if possible, and accordingly I told the manager that I wished to leave. He did not express any desire to retain my services. On the contrary he told me that he was expecting an order for my discharge on the following morning. Unfortunately it did not occur to me just then to enquire what reason was to be given for my discharge. I can only suppose that the reason was that I had written the letters to the Chronicle.
I left, then, on this Tuesday afternoon. On the following evening it came to my knowledge that 12 girls (besides myself) had been discharged. I understand that these girls naturally asked the reason for their discharge, and that the answer was ‘Slackness of work’, and the discontented ones must go’.
I will now state the case of these girls, and will ask for your verdict, which again I do not fear, as to the validity of the excuse just named. The girls, with the exception of one or two married women, are absolutely the most capable and experienced finishers which were employed by the firm. This is proved by what it is impossible for the employers to deny that the girls have been in the habit of taking all the best kinds of work, and have displayed skill and execution in the performance of it. One has been in the employ of the firm thirteen years, another eleven years, five or six tour or five years, and the least term of service is two years. With three exceptions they are girls who had given in their names as desirous of organising at meetings held for that purpose. They are of the girls who, as I stated in the Chronicle of July 28th, had courage enough to interview the manager with a view to getting a re-arrangement of the rules relating to the distribution of work. And this is their reward! It is worthy of notice, too, that these girls are of those who, on that memorable day when we were suddenly confronted by the employer, afterwards openly expressed regret at not having confirmed my statements, and approval of my conduct in maintaining my position. They are girls, too, who have shown a special fondness for the Chronicle of late, and I myself heard an insulting remark made by one of the men who pass the work, to one of the girls who has since been discharged, as she stood side by Side with me at the table on which Chronicle readers were entertained a short time ago — a remark relating to the reading of the Chronicle , of which, sir, this poor girl had evidently been guilty that morning (which was Friday August 3rd).
I could tell, too, of a rather spiteful thing which I saw played on a girl for this same offence. Several of the girls have fathers, and are entirely dependent on their own exertions for a livelihood. They have devoted the best years of their life to the employer who has just now discharged them, and are consequently now only qualified as tailoresses. I do not see how the discharge of these girls can be regarded as anything but cruel in the extreme. Are any of the offences which I have just enumerated worthy of dismissal after years of faithful service? And is it in accordance with reason to discharge the most valuable hands because work is slack?
We girls, as I have shown, have all had some experience, and have seen many slack seasons (more than the present one) but have never before seen experienced hands discharged and inexperienced ones retained. As to the charge of discontent, may we, then, not have the privilege of exercising our reasoning and thinking faculties? Are we required to be human beings, or machines? The discontent which as beings possessed of an average amount of sense it would be a disgrace on us not to feel did not prevent the due and satisfactory performance of our work, which is the only thing for which the employer pays us, and therefore I maintain that he had no right to discharge us on that account. I understand that the tea-money which had on the previous day been paid by some of the discharged ones, was on their discharge returned to them. This was as it should be, and I am glad that it was done. I should like to say, however, that during the years we have been working in the factory we must have paid a considerable sum, which could easily be calculated, towards the purchase of the China, Sugar basins, etc. I would respectfully suggest, now that we have been discharged, either that the money we have paid be returned to us, or that our share of the china be distributed amongst us. It is quite clear that our money has bought a portion of it, and I think it would only be right to put us in possession of what is indubitably ours.
I would like to say that the proof — for which we have a perfect right to ask — that no profit is being made out of the materials supplied to the factory hands has never been given us; and in view of the fact that the same quality materials can be procured in the town of Crewe at a considerably less price than that charged in the factory; and in view of the additional fact that hands employed in the factory are in the habit of taking justifiable advantage of the knowledge of the former fact to procure materials from outside sources surreptitiously — in view of these facts, and of that of proof to the contrary being withheld, I am afraid we shall be obliged , however reluctantly, to come to the conclusion that it seems very probable that profit is made out of the materials, as out of the tea-money.
It would be satisfactory to have some information as to the way in which this profit is expended. We need not doubt that it is returned to the factory hands in some useful way, but it would only be kind to gratify our natural curiosity as to what particular benefit is conferred on them by this profit.
I have now shown the results, sir, to my fellow-workers and myself of the faithful representation of the undeniable evils from which the factory girls of Crewe are suffering, which have appeared from my pen in the columns of the Chronicle. I ask Chronicle readers whether this result is warrantable, or is anything like fair, to say nothing of generous treatment, from employers to employed? Why should we be discharged, and our means of earning a livelihood taken from us, for simply showing what cannot be denied, that the conditions of the life which we, not the employers, have to live are bad and detrimental to our moral welfare, and for proposing and adopting an ultimate means of improving those conditions — for attempting to protect ourselves as employees by uniting in one common interest? The employers and their representatives have repeatedly told us that they have no objection to our forming a union — that the most powerful organisation in the world will never obtain us anything more than we have. Why, then, on meeting nights, should men employed in the factory find it necessary to pass and re-pass the doors of the meeting- room, and also should have such a fit of curiosity on these particular evenings as to closely watch all who enter the room from a spot in the close vicinity of the doors which I could name? Why, I ask? Why should girls be frightened so effectually that they dare not acknowledge that they have joined, or would like to join a union of factory girls which is forming? If combination on the part of the girls is destined never to affect the employers in any way, then why not let the girls alone, and let them amuse themselves, if they choose, in this way? I cannot see why the employers and those under them should concern themselves about these matters so much in the privacy the factory, as I have seen and heard them concern themselves.
We factory girls have been informed by those who were authority over us, that it was the determination of the employers to ‘put down their foot’ on those letters in the Chronicle. Presumably this frightening the poor is the method adopted by the employer of putting down his feet. Why not come out and let the strong light of the public press shine on his doings? Why not put his foot down on the letters in the only open, straightforward way? He has been invited time after time to submit his case to the public. I will answer for the public that they would give him a fair hearing, as they have given the factory girls a fair hearing. On the day on which I had the pleasure of an interview with the employer, I remember asking him why he did not meet me on my own ground — in the Chronicle? His reply was that he did not deign to notice such communications as mine. I remember its occurring to me at the time that such a statement was a little ludicrous and contradictory in face of the meeting which was then being held. But I certainly cannot help thinking that it would be quite dignified on the part of the employers to write to the press as ‘deign’ to frighten the poor girls in the factory.
In conclusion, sir, if you will allow me, I should like inform my late fellow-workers that through no fault of mine I am no longer one of them, yet in sympathy — warmest deepest sympathy — and recollections of sufferings borne side by side with them — I am still with them, and shall always be with them. Anything which I may be able to do at any time in any way towards the effort to improve the conditions of their life, I shall do most gladly. And I would beg them also to be resolute in doing their part by uniting themselves, which is the only way to accomplish anything substantial.
I am, sir, yours sincerely,
(An EX) Crewe Factory Girl