Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 04 May 1934
Cadeby Deadlock
Men Instructed to Return
A Hitch
Demand for Day-to-Day Contracts
The stoppage at the Cadeby Colliery continues, although the men have been instructed by their leaders to return to work.
Ordered In
A meeting of the Council of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association considered the dispute on Saturday and, having received a report on the negotiations from Mr. Herbert Smith (president) and Mr. Alfred Smith (agent), they instructed the Cadeby members to return to work on the terms offered by the Company for an experimental period of two months. These terms, announced in our last issue were:
The adoption of a stint system dividing the whole face into 20-yard stints, with the exception of the left-hand section, which is filled on to the “shakers.”
On each of these 20-yard stints six coal-face workers to be employed.
For getting and filling a stint in a shift 16s. 6d. a man or £4 19s. a set to be paid.
For packing and drawing, 14s. a shift to be paid to leading men, and 12s. to secondary men.
For the portion loaded on to the shakers 15s. a shift to be paid to the colliers.
The system to be tried for two months and during that period any dispute which could not be settled locally to be referred to arbitration.
Anger and Disappointment
The decision of the Council was received with angry disappointment. They had hoped for support and for action to bring about a stoppage of the other pits in the Yorkshire Amalgamated group.
Mass Meeting
A mass meeting of the Cadeby miners was held on Monday on the football ground, Denaby, where the delegate, Mr. H. Saxton, gave a report on the Council meeting held at Barnsley on Saturday.
Before questions on the report could be asked, men called upon the chairman, Mr. Ben Roberts, to accept a motion calling for the immediate resignation of Mr. Herbert Smith, President of the Y.M.A., who, they asserted, had proved himself unfit to continue the leadership of the Y.M.A. The chairman, however, refused to accept this motion.
Afterwards Ald. E. Dunn (Maltby), County Councillor W. E. Jones (Rossington), and Messrs. H. Ross (Dinnington) and R. E. Hughes (Rossington) addressed the meeting. Mr. J. T. E. Collins (Denaby), who was at variance with the policy of the group’s delegates at the Council meeting, also addressed the meeting.
Criticism of Council
Immediately the meeting commenced, a resolution was moved, seconded and supported that the strike continue. Finally, after three hours’ discussion, the meeting accepted by an overwhelming majority an amendment moved by Ald. E. Dunn, seconded by Mr. R. E. Hughes, and supported by Mr. W. E. Jones, in the following terms:—
(a) That this mass meeting of the Cadeby miners view, with grave alarm, the methods adopted by the Y.M.A. at its Council meeting on Saturday last, April 28, and offers its strongest protest against the same, being of the opinion that the Council acted in a most undemocratic manner. This meeting cannot accept the procedure of the Council meeting on Saturday last as a permanent principle of trade union organisation.
(b) It further calls upon the Y.M.A. to give recognition to the group of pits in this combine, namely, Denaby, Cadeby, Maltby, Rossington and Dinnington, and all other groups of pits in all other combines in the future, such recognition to involve recognition for consultations and negotiations when and where necessary.
(c) This meeting, however, while not accepting the terms offered by the colliery company in general principle, agrees to give the same a fair trial on day-to-day contracts, and in the meantime Clause Three of the Agreement to be operated to the full. (Clause Three relates to the opportunity for each side to negotiate if they are not satisfied).
(d) That the outstanding grievances be dealt with in accordance with the resolutions passed at the Y.M.A. Council meeting on Saturday last.
(e) That no advantage be taken against any workman involved in this dispute.
The men strongly resent any attempt by the colliery company to violate the 7½ hour working day as laid down by Act of Parliament.
Strike Continues
On Tuesday a deputation from the men were received by the management, who rejected the proposal to work on day-to-day contracts. Accordingly the pit remains idle. The management are, however, anticipating an early resumption, for the men would appear to have no alternative but to obey the instructions of their union. Their working places are being got ready and it is hoped that work will be resumed early next week.
A further mass meeting of the men has been called for Saturday. No further meeting with the management has been arranged.