Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 26 September 1902
Denaby and Cadeby Strike.
Thirteenth Week of the Stoppage.
Remarkable Letter from Mr. W. H. Chambers.
Dissatisfaction of the Men.
Following the persistent rumour of a settlement which were rife last week came the news that a letter had been received from Mr. W. H. Chambers, the managing director of the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries, Limited. The letter was received by the local officials on Thursday in last week, and though an endeavour was made to secure a copy for publication in last Friday’s “Mexboro and Swinton Times.” the local officials decided to call a meeting and communicate it to the men before allowing it to be pubished. Sufficient was known on Thursday to warrant the statement that so far as the prospects of a settlement went the letter from Mr. Chambers was distinctly discouraging.
Late on Thursday night the bellman was sent round to announce a joint meeting of the men to be held in a field near the two bridges on Denaby road on Friday morning. There was again a large attendance at the meeting, and when the full text of Mr. Chambers’ letter was known the communication was received in a somewhat derisive manner. The temper of the meeting may be jud judged from the fact that a resolution declining any further communication with Mr Chambers was unanimously adopted, though afterwards it was agreed that this decision should be modified.
As at a previous open-air gatherings, Mr F Croft, the chairman of the Denaby Branch of the Yorkshire Miners Association, presided, and the other officials who spoke were Mr G.H. Hirst, the secretary of the Cadeby branch, and Mr John Nolan, the delegate for the Denaby Branch.
The Chairman said that when they met on the Wednesday morning previous, they did not anticipate been called together so soon, but the reply to Mr Cowey’s letter to Mr Chambers had been received. As he had said at the meeting two days before, whether they had good news or bad news before anything was done definitely, the matter should be left entirely in the hands of the men to decide, as the committee would not carry the burden of responsibility connected with the settlement upon their shoulders alone.
The men themselves had unanimously decided to contest the point with their employees, and not for the committee to say when that contest should end. He hoped that the men give the letter which would be read to them the great consideration. He believed that they were all determined has on the first day they threw down their tools not to resume work until they could do so on different lines from the conditions under which they had been suffering so long. (Hear, hear.) They had almost reached the end of the 12th week of the struggle, and had not the least doubt that he would be out of work for another 12 weeks. By the appearance of things he did not think a settlement would be affected this year, at all events, and if needs be, he hoped they would hold out next year two. (Hear, hear.)
Mr Chambers father had fought for two years, and if his son, Mr W.H.Chambers (managing director) was willing to do the same he would find that the men were equally as determined. (Applause.) They had far better fight on than go back to starvation wages. (Cheers).
The men at Denaby and kb added in the subject of ridicule up and down the country for having so long worked at such a low rate of wages. With respect to their tools, which were lying in the working places in the pit, he maintained that the colliery company ought to allow them to fetch the tools out. (Hear, hear.)
Mr G.H. Hirst secretary of the Cadeby Lodge, read the following letter from Mr Cowey:
“Union offices, Barnsley,
September 17, 1902
Dear Sir,
I have received a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, from Mr Chambers.
There is nothing therein stated, only that you are not his employees, and that when you sign on you will meet a deputation.
Your committee and men are better considered this letter over and let me know what you think in regard to it.”
Mr Chambers reply to Mr Cowey’s letter asking him to meet a deputation was as follows:
To Mr Cowie, Union Offices, Barnsley
Dear Sir,
I regret that owing to my absence from home, the letter did not reach me until today. In reply, I have always been willing to meet a deputation with or without a union official, with a view to arranging amicable settlement of disputes.
At the moment, however, there is no dispute between the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries Ltd and their men. The miners lately in the employment of the company unless their work without giving notice, and is therefore not now in the company’s services. If they are re-engaged, the discussion of any matters with which they are dissatisfied can be dealt with in the usual manner.
Yours faithfully,
W.H. Chambers
The speaker drew attention to the sentence contained in the foregoing letter, stating ” I have always been willing to meet a deputation with or without a Union official,” and said he could flatly contradict that statement. When the men set the works down without giving notice a deputation approach Mr. Chambers, who would not listen any question they wished to put before him. When the Council at after considering their case had passed a resolution advising them to return to work, with a view to completing their 14 days’ notice, Mr. Chambers was written to meet a deputation with this object in view, but he refused to see them. On another occasion he had wired to the effect that there was no need for a deputation, the pits were open for the to return to work when they thought fit. He wanted them to sign on again by the old contract, and they had refused to do so.
Again, Mr. Chambers was asked to meet a deputation accompanied by one of the Barnsley officials. and he replied by wire: “Deputation impossible as men are out of work without notice.”
With regard to them not being his employees they would wait until he emit them word that they were to be. (Loud applause). He hoped they would again a resolution asking Mr. Chambers to meet a deputation, but that they would wait until Mr. Chambers thought fit to ask them to send one. (Hear. hear.) With regard to the tools lying in the pit, he moved a resolution, which was adopted, that Mr. Chambers be written to, asking him to allow them to fetch their tools out, as they were their own property and according to the bye-laws in force previous to the strike.
Mr. F. Croft said Mr. Chambers wanted them to go to work on the old lines. (Cries, “We won’t go.”) The speaker: I am glad to hear you say that. We won’t go until we have a fresh price list, if we have to stand out for two years. (Hear, hear.) He said they had the public sympathy. Considering the high price of coal why should they, he asked, have to get coal and do “ripping” and “packing” at a less price than was paid anywhere else in the country. He would move a resolution that they write Mr. Cowes not to ask Mr. Chambers to meet any more deputations, but to wait until he was prepared to ask them to meet him. (Cheers.)
Mr. John Nolan, a Denaby branch official, said he was not surprised at Mr. Chambers’ reply to Mr. Cowey’s letter. Deputations to the management had always been treated in that way. On the first occasion, when they told him that unless the system of illegally deducting money from men’s wages was put an end to there would be trouble, he had said, “Very well, stop the pit.” This was the result; they had stopped working, and if they went back on the old system they would simply continue to be slaves, and there would be no chance of deputations. He thought they ought to continue in their present attitude. Mr. Chambers was simply acting like Lord Penrhyn had done with the quarrymen. With regard to the resolution before them, be thought that it was too harsh. He considered it would be best for them to modify this. He thought the opinion of the meeting ought to be conveyed to Barnsley, as the letter from Mr. Chambers contained nothing in the nature of any advancement towards a settlement, and that when the colliery company could come to some understanding or settlement which would be worth acting upon the men were ready and willing to work.
So long as Mr. Chambers said they were not his employees then it was but right that he should hand over their tools to them. It was decided to leave the drafting of the resolution to be forwarded in the hands of the ‘ secretaries. There was some discussion with regard to the relief of unfinanced members who are on strike and it was ultimately decided not to support these out of the relief funds.