Yorkshire Post (09/Sep/1891) - The Dispute at the Huddersfield Waterworks

The following is a transcription of a historic newspaper article and may contain occasional errors. If the article was published prior to 1 June 1957, then the text is likely in the Public Domain.

The Dispute at the Huddersfield Waterworks.

Mr. Hughes, the superintendent of the works recently commenced for the construction of Butterley Reservoir, in the Wessenden Valley, Marsden, having learned that it was the custom on other works made previously by the Corporation for the piece hands to cease work half an hour earlier for the first five days of the week and an hour earlier on Saturdays than the day hands, has decided not to make any alteration now in that respect, though the custom is not universal throughout the country, and where it does exist it causes inconvenience. At the same time he denies that he did more than intimate to the men that there would have to be an alteration. As to the day hands, there was still less grounds for them to leave. No complaint had been made that they as a body did not do enough work, but complaints were simply made to a ganger that his gang ought to do more. The works have been closed since Thursday night, but by the decision to allow the piece-workers to continue the custom they stood out for, and by a change of ganger over some of the day men, it is believed that when the works are opened again this morning the great majority of the men will apply to be set on again, and that the dispute will terminate.