OPPRESSIVE COMBINATION OF WORKMEN.
8th April 1851. Sre.—I beg leave to call your attention to a case of great oppression, and of more tyrannical nature than that relating to the coopers, arising from a combination of workmen seeking to establish a monopoly, and by which many honest hard-working men have suffered grievous injury. There is a society of River Thames Ship-caulkers; and by one of their rules it appears that any man who has served a legal apprenticeship as a caulker in one of her Majesty's Dockyards shall be admitted a member by paying a fine of ten pounds. I served an apprenticeship as a caulker in her Majesty's Dockyard at Chatham and have received certificates of good character and competency as a worknian. Being anxious to obtain employment on the banks of the Thames and knowing that I should not be able to do so without becoming a member of the so-called Friendly Society, I applied to be enrolled, and tendered the 'fine of ten pounds; when, to my great surprise, I was informed that I was not eligible, because I had not served my apprenticeship on the river Thames.
It was in vain that I called the attention of the Committee to their own rule, which declared that caulkers who had served their tune in any of the Government Dockyards should be admitted by paying an admission-fine of ten pounds. My application was peremptorily rejected. • I applied to Mr. Yardley, at Thames Police Court, for redress; but that gentleman declared his inability to afford me any ; at the same time he ex- pressed his regret that the law did not permit him to interfere in a matter of so much importance to many industrious workmen. I am not the only man who has been proscribed by this society, and refused admission as a member. Twelve others have been dealt with in a similar manner.
The case of one man, William Hall, who served his time in Woolwich Dock- yard, is a very melancholy one, lie also was rejected by the society. (Wool- wich is on the banks of the Thames.) The proscription of the society and consequent want of work so preyed on his mind, that he became insane, and is now confined as a pauper lunatic. To prove to you, Sir, that this society is a combination of the most despotic character, I have only to refer to one of their by-laws, which imposes a fine of five pounds on any member working in any yard with any caulker who is not a member.
Myself and fellow workmen who served their apprenticeship in her Ma- jesty's backyards have been sent for by shipbuilders on the banks of the river Thames ; they are most anxious to employ us, but, owing to the com- bination of this society1 are actually afraid to do so. The builders have been compelled to submit to insults, and also to exorbitant demands, because we are in a minority and not sufficiently numerous to oppose the society-men effectually ; consequently this friendly society oppress us with impunity, and we are deprived in a free country of the right which we thought belonged to every Englishman of disposing of our labour and skill in any market, and em- ploying ourselves for the benefit of our families who are dependent on us for support.
We earnestly appeal to you, Sir, to make our wrongs known to the world, and to expose the injustice and oppression of which we have been made the victims.
I am, Sir, respectfully, your most obedient and humble servant,
JOHN BOWE-N, Caulker. (For himself and others.)
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