Denaby Main Strikes and Lock outs – A Retrospect

August 1886

Mexborough and Swinton Times August 27, 1886

Denaby Main Strikes and Lock outs

A Retrospect

In connection with the latest dispute at this colliery, which terminated on Saturday by the fillers return to work at the same rate of wages under the same conditions which have been in vogue since the last great strike, it may be interesting to our readers if we take a slight retrospect of some of the disputes which have occurred, and the manner in which work is being carried on under the many different systems which from time to time been introduced at the pit.

Denaby Main Colliery, or as it is locally termed, “Denaby pit,” enjoys the distinction of being the most extensive one in South Yorkshire, and, unless some dispute is being waged, it also occupies a foremost position in the monthly tables of the “output” at the principal collieries in the district, which are periodically issued. It has also achieved the unenviable notoriety of being the scene of more strikes and lockout than any of its neighbours on the Barnsley seam, and so numerous have been the disputes of late years that there is hardly a workman about the place who can tell with any degree of accuracy the precise number of times when the pit as being “set down,” by these means.

The longest strike that has ever been waged by the men was that which commenced on New Year’s Day, last year, and continue without intermission, until August 14, when the men resumed work after having “laked,” 35 weeks. The next in order of length was that which occurred in 1869, when the employees were locked out for 28 weeks because they declined to obey the behests of the Masters in their endeavour to frustrate the formation of a Denaby branch of the South Yorkshire Minded Association. Happily, the strike which has just concluded, resulted in an absence of work of only four working days, but although the men have gone in they freely expressed a determination to again try their luck upon a more favourable opportunity

The prices now existing at the colliery are as follows:

The Colliers get at the present time 1s 4 ½per ton for round call (including 2d per ton for “packing” and “wooding”) and 6d for slack, which terms they accepted last August, after which they pay their fillers (who have no direct contract with the company) 5 ½, for filling round call, and 2 ½ for slack.

Previous to the “great” strike, the rates of wages was 1s 3 ½d for colliers (which does not include one shilling 10d percent, conceded by the Masters during the preceding 12 months), out of which they paid their fillers 5 ½d, and the corresponding 10% advance. At this time the coal was shovelled altogether – “softs,” “large,” and “lack” – into the cause and consequently this system did not entail much trouble upon the fillers, the coal being screened into round and slack on the pit bank at the company’s expense.

In consequence of numerous complaints of the part of their customers, who prefer to have the hard and soft separate for the convenience of consumers, the company decided upon inaugurating a new system whereby this distinction should be made con current with a thorough revision of prices. They offer the men 1s 6d for round coal and 6d for slack, which terms include the 10% which are being formally granted.

As is well known the men immediately went on strike, contending that the proposed new rate of payment was tantamount to a reduction of 30%, which was in reality only a reduction of 10%. Numerous offers and suggestion were exchanged between the company and there’s employees, and it was at this point that Mr W Chappell (who then was a recognised leader of the men) made arrangements with the masters whereby work should be resumed at the following rates: 1s 4 ½d for round coal and 8d for slack.

This suggestion was indignantly repudiated by the men at a mass meeting held on Easter Monday, when they were incited to persist in their uncompromising attitude by several of the wilder spirits of the revolt, and the result was that Mr Chappell, finding that all his efforts proved to be ineffectual gave up his position in despair, and has never since been connected with the men from this time to the termination of the dispute with the company.

From that time to the termination of the dispute the company’s terms became “smaller and beautifully less,” and, last, in the autumn, the men resumed work at 1s 4 ½d and 6d – much more unfavourable prices than those suggested by Mr Chappell (who scale prices did not included the 2d for packing”) who had the satisfactions of seeing this the wisdom of his then policy fully recognised by the men. It was here that the colliers agreed to pay out of this the fillers wages 5 ½d and 2 ½d, against which the latter now murmur. Not only were the wages reduced, but the “rake” and “pan” system was introduced, for the purpose of separating the “round” from the “slack.”

On one previous occasion only has the rake and pan system been introduced, in 1875, when the men went out on strike against it, but eventually agreed to the innovation after “playing” three weeks. The “rakes” and “pans” continued in the pit for about 12 months, when they were taken out unsolicited by the company, the reason assigned being that as a slack which was left by the rakes in the pit was in danger of combustion and it would not be safe to permit it being stored in the colliery of so fiery a nature as Denaby, and there is no doubt that many of the outbreaks which occur from time to time are caused by spontaneous combustion of the slack which has been stored away.

As tending to show what advantageous terms the men once worked at, it may be mentioned that in 1871 what is called the “coal famine,” the colliers and fillers received an advance of 57 ½ percent, on the 1871 prices, the colliers now fully state that they would only be too glad to obtain the 1871 prices now without the 57½%.