- Kershaw premises, George Street, photographed in 1907.
A strike in the straw trade is a very unusual thing, and when one occurred on Monday it attracted considerable attention, especially as it was at one of the biggest firms in the town, namely that of Messrs J. C. Kershaw & Co, George Street.
About 60 hat finishers took this drastic step, and congregated on Monday morning [September 16th, 1918] outside the factory, the scene being extremely lively but orderly. They were all at one time interviewed by Mr Plummer, one of the directors, at the door.
For some time there has been great unrest in the trade generally among the finishers, arising out of the fact that they have to buy their own cotton. The price of this necessary item has soared, like most other things, to the most unexpected height. Instead of costing a finisher about 9d a week, the average had risen to at least 2s 6d.
The women and girls at the factory named made a request to the firm for consideration, it is said, some weeks ago, but evidently did not receive satisfaction soon enough, and they decided to come out on strike.
Wiser counsels prevailed on both sides, however, and after an interview an agreement was arrived at, and the trouble terminated happily on Tuesday morning, the operatives then resuming work.
Following the above report in The Luton News on Thursday, September 19th, 1918, the Saturday Telegraph two days later reported that, following considerable labour trouble in straw trade circles during the previous week or two, the Chamber of Commerce had endeavoured to deal with the situation. A hastily called conference of the chairman and vice-chairman of the ladies' hat section and men's hat section of the Hat Manufacturers' Association was held on Thursday afternoon, followed by a general meeting of manufacturers who were members of the two bodies.
At the meeting, which was largely attended, the position was fully discussed, and the disadvantage of making individual settlements with employees was admitted. As a result the report of the committee was unanimously accepted.
The report provided for the establishment of a conciliation board for the industry, to be composed of seven employers' representatives, seven work people's representatives and a neutral chairman.
The employers' representatives were elected at the meeting, and in the absence of any sufficiently representative trade union of the workers, employers have been asked to give facilities for, or to assist in the formation of works committees in their factories.
From these committees two delegates are to be sent to a conference at which the labour representatives are to be selected. The panel, when formed, will select a neutral chairman, and in the event of future troubles will be the body to take the question in hand.
A meeting of the Workers' Union (Straw Trade Section) was held at the Franklin Hotel, George Street, on Monday evening [September 23rd]. Mr H. White (organiser) and Messrs Brewer and Toyer addressed the meeting, and Mr Fred Bates presided. The suggestion made by the Hat Manufacturers' Association concerning the establishment of a conciliation board for the industry was discussed, and it was decided to communicate with the Association on the subject.
The question of a bonus scheme for straw and felt hat workers, both male and female, was submitted and, after due consideration, it was decided to leave the question to a meeting of the workers which is being arranged to take place in October.
The meeting agreed that, owing to the number of workers from the bleaching and dyeing trade joining the Union, the section should be known as 'The Workers' Union – Straw and Felt Hat. Bleaching and Dye Workers' Section'. From the evidence of those present at the meeting, the section is making great strides in Luton and Dunstable, and there has already been an invitation from the Local Advisory (Employment Exchange) Board for a straw hat representative to act of the Straw Trade Panel.
[The Luton News: Thursday, September 19th and 26th, 1918; Saturday Telegraph, September 28th, 1918]