Catalogue description Ministry of Munitions. Mrs. L. Moody, explosive worker, Royal Laboratory, Woolwich:...

Ministry of Munitions. Mrs. L. Moody, explosive worker, Royal Laboratory, Woolwich: compensation for injury.

[A case in which the conflict between worker and employer was overt and frankly political. Mrs. Moody suffered from C. E. poisoning which, she alleged, was serious and incurable and had caused the stillbirth of her child. Her approach to the Treasury was aggressive. She viewed her own treatment as typical of the 'loving kindness of the Ministry towards its female workers' and the Treasury's policy of 'DENY EVERYTHING' and dismissed the Treasury Medical Referee as 'practically a servant' and 'offensive' in manner, as well. Moreover, she threatened to take her case to the public and to 'Labour.' This clearly disconcerted the Treasury, which was not accustomed to such lese-majesty. One civil servant believed this to be an important case in that the woman was 'fairly well educated' and therefore likely to provoke a scandal, especially as her allegations concerning conditions of work were probably true. In the end it was decided that '`Nil' is the only possible step now': her incapacity was judged as not arising out of her employment, and no compensation was paid].

Attached file(s): 31995/18; 26965/18