Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 May 1934
Cadeby Strike
Appeal to Conisborough Council
The Local Distress
What the Public Wants to Know
Yesterday was the seventeenth day of the stoppage of the Cadeby Colliery owing to a dispute concerning the wages to be paid for coal getting by conveyor. The dispute directly affects about 500 men, but 2,400 men and boys are thrown out of work.
The settlement negotiated for the men by Mr. Herbert Smith, president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, was rejected by them, and an instruction from the Council of the Y.M.A. to return to work on the terms offered by the Company for an experimental period of two months was also refused, the men insisting on day-to-day contracts, to which the Company declined to agree.
At a mass meeting on Saturday the men were advised by their local leaders to return to work on the negotiated terms, but they “turned down” their local leaders also.
The dispute, which is having a serious effect on the economic life of the neighbourhood, as well as upon the men themselves and their families, was the principal topic at the monthly meeting of the Conisborough Urban District Council on Wednesday.
A letter was received from the Cadeby Branch of the Y.M.A. stating that the branch was making an appeal to all branches for funds to assist their people to carry on their struggle to a successful issue, and asking for the assistance of the Council in the matter.
The Single Men
Coun. Ben Roberts explained that the men affected received no union money, and as able-bodied men were not entitled to public assistance. Those who were hardest hit were the single men who got nothing at all, and he had been told of one or two cases where single men had been told that if they did not get some money within the next week they would have to clear out of their lodgings. It might be asked why had these single men no money laid aside, but to-day it was a case of one week’s work and two weeks’ pay, with the result that the men had no chance of saving.
If funds could be raised the branch’s first intention was to look after the single men, though they would do their best to look after the children also. There were a number of reasons why the men were “sticking out,” but one great point was that they had been refused minimum wages.
What the Public Wants to Know
Mr. J. I. Webster said if they were going to back up this appeal they would have to put a strong case before the public, because the man in the street was asking why these men got no union pay if they were members of the union. They ought to be able to say how it was these men could not have union money.
Mr. Roberts mentioned that all the branches of the Y.M.A. had been written to with a view to helping their men.
Mrs. Levers: “Has Mr. Herbert Smith been asked to contribute to this appeal?”
Mr. Roberts: “I think Mrs. Levers already knows the answer to that question.”
Mr. H. Gomersall said it was a very grave situation. Mr. Webster had hit the nail on the head when he said the townspeople would want to know whether the men at Cadeby were in the right.
Standing Out “For a Principle”
Mr. J. T. E. Collins said everyone would have sympathy with these men, but it was practical help they wanted. It was quite obvious that there must be something the matter or the men would not be out. He mentioned dances and concerts as methods of raising funds, though with 2,000 men out of work in the district those might not be a great success.
There was no reason why this appeal should not be passed on to other Councils in the district because the Cadeby men felt they were standing out for a principle. It was up to everyone who had humanitarian instincts to see what they could do to help. The spirit of the Cadeby men was magnificent and they deserved support.
Mr. Webster: “I mix with all sorts of people in the town and there is not the sympathy with the Cadeby men that you think. We have got to remove the fear that something is wrong.”
Mr. Gomersall said they had to consider people in all walks of life, people who were not even sympathetic to trade unionism. Whatever was done they ought to submit a case stating definitely why the men at Cadeby were standing out. They should not ask for assistance half-heartedly but should go the whole way.
Mr. Roberts said those who had followed the dispute would have seen that deputations had been endeavouring to arrive at a settlement. Mr. Herbert Smith had recommended that the men should give the management’s terms a trial, but the men did not agree. A report was given to the Y.M.A. delegates who approved Mr. Smith’s suggestion that a trial should be given, but the men still refused to go back because of agreements which had been broken in the past and had still to be adjusted.
Over two weeks had passed since the beginning of the stoppage and it looked as though more than another week would pass before any union pay came through. In the meantime these people were starving.
On the proposition of Mr. G. A. Chadfield, it was decided that the chairman of the Council should issue an appeal and endeavour to enlist the co-operation of neighbouring local authorities.
Suggested Appeal to Barnsley
Mr. Webster moved that the Council write to Y.M.A. headquarters at Barnsley to the effect that:
“The Conisborough Urban Council, having become aware of the distress existing, and now increasing, in the area as a result of the dispute involving the workers at the Cadeby Colliery, requests the Y.M.A. to reconsider its decision, try to obtain an early and honourable settlement, and give to those involved the benefits anticipated from membership of the union.”
This resolution was carried.