South Yorkshire Times, November 6 1965
Absenteeism Clouds Denaby Pit Future
A warning that if absenteeism continued at its present level the future of Denaby Main Colliery would be in grave doubt, was given to colliery employees at the No. 3 Area Headquarters at Manvers on Saturday.
All grades of the 1,081 workmen at the pit were invited to attend the meeting, which was addressed by Mr. C. Round, Area General Manager.
An Area spokesman said afterwards that one point particularly stressed was that present absentee levels were intolerable and if they continued they must bring about the closure of the pit.
If absenteeism couldn’t be controlled a serious technical problem would arise with respect to road maintenance and development of the pit, and the position could become critical.
Better Spirit.
The men were told that greater discipline must be exercised throughout the pit and a general approach developed be virtue of an improved spirit, better discipline and an enthusiastic, determined effort to secure the Colliery’s future.
It was stated that mechanisation should make a lasting and substantial contribution to the Colliery’s viability and security, if there was a general desire to make it so. There was no reason why Denaby should not be a very important contributor to the success of the community and the industry.
Figures submitted showed that output had declined from over 512,000 tons in 1954 to 327,000 in the past year. On present performance, output for the current year is estimated a 275,00 tons.
Big Loss.
Productivity in 1954 was 23.7 cwts. per man shift and for the current year it was 23.8. In the same period productivity for the Area has risen from 25.8 to 35.8 cwts. per man shift. Over the period of review he pit has lost over £1m. and losses on this year could exceed £375,000.
Costs of production had almost doubled and absenteeism had increased from 23.6 to 30.7 per cent. on the face and from 18.8 to 36.6 overall. During September and October the position had worsened to an average of 24.6 at the coal face and 31.7 per cent. overall – about ten per cent. higher than the average for the Area.
The men were told that excellent quality reserves were available and at an output of 480,000 tons a year the life of the pit could greatly exceed 50 years.
Modernised.
The Colliery has been extensively modernised and faces equipped by the latest mechanised techniques, and is capable of producing over 2,000 tons per day with an average level of effort.
Providing it was the desire and intention of all concerned the Colliery had great prospects, and could readily become an economic and viable proposition – a more responsible attitude towards absenteeism, selecting, placing and adjusting personnel to the advantage of the pit and all concerned, dealing with day to day problems on a more enlightened basis, must transform the present serious position and bring about a lasting and secure future for all.
A ‘South Yorkshire Times’ reporter and photographer went to Denaby on Monday to get some views on the meeting but found the men reluctant to talk. We were told by one man: ‘Would you put your name to anything if your livelihood was at stake.’
Maintenance.
Others we spoke to blamed bad machinery and poor maintenance of machinery for the poor production figures.
A branch official of the N.U.M. told the ‘South Yorkshire Times’ yesterday: ‘Absenteeism is a problem at all collieries. There is little we seem to be able to do about it. We are hoping for a better future at the pit.
‘The main problem has not been one of absenteeism, but a new face that has been opened up. There has been a fall of roof and this has affected production. When we overcome this snag there is no reason why production at this pit should not be as good as any in this Area.’