From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter concerning employee wages, pay rates, and the need for reductions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M7\ img008 | |
| Date | 20th October 1928 | |
| Reg. TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: "ROYCE, WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town." {TWO WORDS ONLY.} TELEPHONE: CHICHESTER 210. STATION—PASSENGER & GOODS: CHICHESTER—7 MILES. SOUTHERN RLY. "ELMSTEADHenry Royce's home in West Wittering," WEST WITTERINGHenry Royce's home town, NR. CHICHESTER. Mr. Bentley. ROYCE LTD. MANCHESTER. 20th. Oct. 1928. Dear Mr. Bentley, You will realise that you must not be short-handed so that the work does not get done. It is certain more can be done per person with cutting out waste, but I still think we are paying too much per hour for the work done- (i.e. rates average too high.) A store-keeper and a cost clerk should not have higher wages than a mechanic, and I am sure there much of the staff wages were advanced during the war and have not been reduced again, as have other workers. I shall want a comparison between pre-war rates of such workers, and the present, and the index figure of the cost of living, and the comparison of the mechanics - i.e. rate of pay per hour worked in each case, and also the pay of similar workers at neighbouring Works. Especially easy will be to find out Glover's pay. For instance, ought not the secretary to be so much on the job that he does not need an expensive cashier, nearly of the same pay as the chief draughtsman and Works Manager. Kindly shew this letter to Mr. Kenyon, and ask him to excuse me, but I am having to find money from my savings, and work my Sundays and evenings, to keep you going, and I cannot do it for long, even if I were willing. Yours faithfully, [Signature] Copy to Mr. Claremont. Copy to Mr. Allcock. Copy to Mr. Hulley. | ||