First Tram Conductresses

[Sgt York]

Glasgow Corporation 1916

[MartinWills]

Tram conductresses were recruited earlier in the war than 1916 - and were to be found in most towns. Glasgow in many ways is one of the more interesting, however, as they raised the "Glasgow Tramways Battalion" being the 15th HLI.

Nice pic. The IWM issued a nice postcard of a lady tram driver a while ago.

[Terry_Reeves]

Tram Conductresse's were recruited in Coventry in 1915, against much opposition. Apart from the Trades Unions, the local councillors felt they that they would not be able to cope with conditions on the open top deck of a tram.

In the event, a trial period proved successfull, however the city council had to fall in line with union wishes, that they would be replaced by returning ex-servicemen at the end of the war. Towards the end of 1918 the issue was raised again and in early 1919 all women in that position lost their jobs.

Terry Reeves

[Sue Light]

The text accompanying this photo says that Glasgow was indeed the first place to employ women on trams, I think in May 1915. It reads:

Because Glasgow Tramways Department was the first to employ women actually on the vehicles, it is easy to overlook the extent to which women were employed behind the scenes. Glasgow Tramways started to employ women as Sub-Station attendants in May 1916, when ten were taken on. On average they earned 35/6d. including bonus, for a 42-hour week. WJorking conditions here were generally good, and attracted women from the better educated classes. Here women were offered measurable responsibility despite the initial and, in some cases, lasting objections of men, who regarded this as skilled work, and therefore the preserve of male workers alone. This woman wears no uniform and can be smartley dressed for her work.

Diana Condell/Jean Liddiard - Working for Victory.

I find it just a touch far fetched to imagine that women turned up for work every day in the sub-station dressed quite like this -

Sue

[MartinWills]

Sue,

I would not be that surprised at the attire. Substations for the larger tramway undertakings were palaces second only to waterworks in that era and would be kept looking immaculate, a high standard was often demanded of the staff working there.