From the Archives
The Lewes and District Trades Council is fortunate in having the local Trades' Council Minutes Books, spanning nearly 100 years of
trade unionism in the Newhaven and Lewes areas. They are particularly of interest to the historian, demonstrating the influence of
Trades Councils in local decision-making for at least half a century, amd their subsequent decline. Those interested in Family History
may find a forebear among the worthies listed as "Members present".The Inaugural Meeting of the Trades,Labour and District Council held on the 3rd November 1917.
A meeting of Secretaries representing all the Trades Unions of the Town, was held at the White Hart Rooms 13/10/17, to appoint Delegates to form above Council. The first meeting of Delegates was held Saturday 3-11-17. When the following Unions were represented, National Union of Railway. Clerks Assctn. Boiler makers. Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Dockers and Riverside Workers. N.U.R. Messrs I.Pargeter. J.Browning G.Chatfield H.Wakeford G.Swain H.Purcell C.Lower G.Jesty W.Gates C.Huntley F. Archer R.Clarke Clerks Association Mr H.H.Page J Taylor Mr Shoebridge Sub Amalgamated Society of Engineers Mr. RA Clarke and W. Barrow B.M.U Mr. Sherwin Mr.Strangemore Dockers and Riverside Workers Messrs W Ingram W Stead J.Oxley A Harrison Officers for Council were appointed as under pro W Stead 2nd Mr.Swain Mr I. Pargeter take the Chair pro Mr Lower 2nd Mr.Browning F Archer Secretary including Mr H.H Page Treasurer. pro Mr. Wakeford 2nd MrPurcell that Mr Barrow be vice President. moved by Mr. Barrow 2nd Mr. Stead that a Committee of five, representing one form each Society by (sic) appointed to draw up rules and arrange for suitable rooms and be prepared to lay them before the next General meeting of Delegates to be held on Saturday 1-12-17. Mr. Harrison moved Mr Barrow 2nd that we adopt the name of Trades, Labour and District Council and tha the contribution be 2d per Member per annum to be paid half yearly in advance, commencing from the 1st of November 1917. The Chairman in his opening remarks welcomed the 18 Delegates present, out of a possible 21. of the three absentees one was Ill and the other two on duty. He further remarked that he hoped the would take over the work from the combined Trades Unions and that this would be the Council that would take real action, in seeing to it the the food Control Committee* we(sic) properly constituted. He regretted that the Firemans and Seamans Union could not see their way clear to join us. but fully understood theur difficulties. A reply was read by Sec to a letter forwarded to Lord Rhondda re food Control Committee and was instructed to again communicate, seeking further information and pressing for an early reply. Councillor H. Wakeford gave us some light on the difficulties of the Urban Council and hoped the (sic) this Council would give him their support and assistance. |