Sweden/Denmark 1886 - Swedish bottlemakers conned:

[littlealison]

In 1886 in Dublin, Ireland, there was a bottlemakers strike in Ringsend.
Article - THE BOTTLEMAKING TRADE
‘Freeman’s Journal’, Dublin, Thursday 8th April 1886 - and further articles.

In investigating this I discovered that my greatgrandfather John Little was involved in trying to break the strike. He was at the time manager at the Irish Glass Bottle Works. (Other works had resolved the strike.)
On 7th April 1886, 24 Swedish workmen arrived from Copenhagen, Denmark, with a contract arranged for work for a year in Ringsend - by 'Messrs Little' who had told them there was no strike. (I don't know who the other Little was.)
The local Trades organisation became involved and also a Socialist Worker called Schumann, a Dane who came in as translator.

The Swedish workers refused to break the strike. They and their families were apparently housed in sheds on the quay by the works for weeks. In the end after a lot of argument they were sent back to Sweden.
John Little (who I am not proud of over this) kept his job.........


Now the question - is there any way of finding any record from Sweden or Denmark, taking in to account that I have looked and can't cope with translating any old newspapers? - Alison.

[Currie]

Hello Alison,

The only online Swedish newspaper archive I could easily find is the one listed here. The way it works is fairly easy to figure out, but I think it’s broken. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_on ... ves#Sweden

If you do happen to find something in Swedish, Google has a translator that usually gives a good gist of what it’s all about http://translate.google.com.au/?hl=en&tab=TT

The National Library of Sweden digitisation project may be your best bet but it’s not quite there yet. http://www.kb.se/english/about/news/One ... ned-pages/

I don’t know whether this has come up before but in the Birmingham Daily Post, Tuesday, December 22, 1885, there’s a short item that mentions that Robert Paul, of Camlachie, was importing a number of Swedish bottle makers “to extend the Swedish system of glass-bottle making”. No mention of a strike but I wonder how that worked out. They were from Gothenburg, as were bottles I’ve seen mention of being imported. Perhaps the strike breaking bottle makers originated from there. http://talkingscot.com/gallery/albums/u ... s_1885.JPG

All the best,
Alan

[littlealison]

Alan, I am really sorry I haven't seen this until today.
My computer picked up a nasty and was away for weeks, but is now back and all cleaned up - but I have not had any alerts from this forum (....or any other. Must check that).

The article in the Journal does make clear that they couldn't get anyone from Glasgow or England to move to Dublin - they must have known there was a strike!

Interesting about these Swedish workers. There must have been something going on in the Swedish bottle industry at the time - somewhere closed down? but no apparent fishy business in this case.

Will check out the other sites too - thanks Alan - all the best, Alison.

[Currie]

That's okay Alison, hope you find what you're looking for.

My notifications seem to be alright now.

All the best,
Alan