Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 24 March 1893
The Glass Bottle Trade Dispute.
On Monday another meeting of the members of the Yorkshire Glass Bottle Manufacturers’ Association was held at the Brill Hotel, Wakefield. Mr. Caleb Kilner, of Conisbomugh, the president of the association, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance. Another long discussion took place relative to the divide between the glass bottle manufacturers and their work people, which has now existed for nearly three months. In the course of the discussion Mr. Isaac Kaberry, of Pontefract, the solicitor and secretary to the Masters’ Association read a letter from Dr. Walsham How, Bishop of Wakefield, suggesting that a board of arbitration should be formed, and after some discussion it was resolved :—
” That in accordance with the Bishop’s suggestion the masters association are willing to refer the dispute between master’ and workmen to arbitration, and that the secretary write to the workmen’s secretary accordingly.”
The glass bottle makers’ dispute has continued for three months, and in Yorkshire 2,000 union bottle hands and 2.000 packers, daymen, teazers, founders, etc., who are non-union men, are out of employment. On Wednesday information was received from Mr. Kaberry, secretary to the manufacturers, to this effect, and a circular is being forward from Castleford to each of the branches in Yorkshire asking the opinion of men on the arbitration proposal.