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From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 21st January 1972....Scribe/Tango
WHEN I WAS BOUND APPRENTICE
When John Arnott junior of Saltcoats signed a contract to become a ship carpenter for a firm of Ardrossan shipbuilders, he bound himself to be an ?apprentice and servant? of the company for five years.
He also promised to serve them ?by night and by day? and to ?abstain from all vicious and improper company.? His father John Arnott senior also signed the contract.
For those who may be shocked at such working conditions and are wondering what the trade unions are doing in allowing a worker to sign such a contract, they can be assured that John Arnott junior signed those terms on October 1, 1861.
Dr A. Arnott, 43 Bowfield Road, West Kilbride is the grandson of John Arnott junior and recently he found the contract among some old belongings at home.
POOR TERMS
It illustrates the extremely poor working terms that workers endured more than 100 years ago, when youths usually bound themselves into a period of slavery.
An extract from the contract of Messrs Barr and Shearer, shipbuilders, reads that John Arnott junior promised to be honest, faithful, diligent on a work-day and holiday and that he should pay double the value of any lose his ?masters? might sustain through his fault.
In the case of absence from work his ?masters? were entitled to deduct two day?s pay for any day he was absent without consent and one day?s wages for any day he was absent through sickness.
In addition, John Arnott junior had to work two days at the end of his contract for any day absent without consent through his working period.
NO DRINK
Another extract read ?he shall abstain from excess in drinking and other ?. Immorality of every description.?
The reward for working under such conditions was that John Arnott junior was paid five shillings a week in his first year, six shillings a week in the next three years and then the ?grand sum? of seven shillings a week in the fifth year.
A far cry, indeed, from today?s working terms. |
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