Dispute – Denaby Strike – Men Still Out – Friction Between Men

November 1895

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 15, 1895

The Denaby Main Strike

The Men Still Standing Out
Friction between Surface Men and Miners
Important Correspondence with the Management

There is practically nothing new to report with reference to the situation in the dispute at Denaby Main Colliery, and since last week very little has been said by either side that is likely to lead to a settlement of the dispute.

Last week the strike committee of the top men sent a detailed statement of their grievances to the Coal Owners Association, and although that body met on Tuesday, up to last night nothing had been heard by the strike committee in reply to their communication.

On Friday and Saturday nothing was done, but on Sunday the Rev RP Roseveare, the curator in charge at Denaby Main, having agreed to preach a Labour sermon, the topmen had a church parade to the new church at Denaby.

On Monday morning there was a brief meeting at the clubroom at the George and Dragon, but nothing of any great public interest inspired, and Tuesday and Wednesday were again blank days, no meeting being held and no advances be made either from the men on strike or the employers towards a settlement of the dispute.

On Tuesday night a rumour gained currency, that the dispute had been settled, but this proved unfortunately to possess no foundation, enquiry at the headquarters of the strike committee on Wednesday morning eliciting the information that nothing was known of the matter beyond the knowledge of the rumour.

On Wednesday night, however, the monthly meeting of the Mexborough and District Trades Council was held, at which the delegates of the surface men’s union were present. Yesterday morning the topmen held a meeting to consider the report of the delegates, they having been instructed to lay their case before the Trade Council and invite its support. The delegates in reporting complained bitterly of the treatment they had received from the Trades Council, and the meeting of surface men decided unanimously to the decline the offer of that body to endeavour to bring about a settlement.

Meanwhile correspondence has passed between Mr Chambers (the manager of the colliery) and the Rev RP Roseveare, in which Mr Chambers states the case of the colliery company in reply to the detailed list of grievances published on behalf of the men last week. Thus the situation is exactly the same as last week.

Nothing has been heard from the Coal Owners Association as to whether they will bring the subject in dispute before the South Yorkshire Joint Committee, and so far as any disposition on the part of either the men or the firm to yield in the least has been displayed there is not the remotest chance of the dispute being terminated.

The officials of both unions affect about the dispute, that is the national Amalgamated Unit of Labour and the Denaby branch of the Miners Association, have been obliged to consider the question obtaining funds for their non-financial members, and each union has issued an appeal, and house, so far, succeeded in getting funds for the support of the men requiring the same.