Denaby Miners and “Rakes And Pans.”

October 1886

Mexborough and Swinton Times October 29, 1886

The Denaby Miners and “Rakes And Pans.”

On Thursday a deputation of the Denaby Main men waited upon Mr Chambers, the manager, relative to the filling questions.

It will be remembered that for some time the filling out been done by the rake and pan system, whereas formerly it was done by means of the shovel. About 11 years ago, the rake and pan were used at Denaby Main, but the arrangement, it is said, did not last more than a few months.

On the arrival of the Staffordshire hands, after the last strike, they were reintroduced, and up to last week have continued in use. At the Staffordshire mines the rakes and pans appear to be somewhat general, but in Yorkshire the shovel is preferred.

The last meeting of the Denaby men on the matter was on Thursday night, when it was decided to make another effort to get the rakes and pans stopped. The percentage of slack was gone into, and it was contended that no more slack was made by the shovel than by the rake and pan; in fact, the old system was more advantageous to the masters as well as less cumbersome to the men.

On Thursday last the manager stated that he had laid the question before the company, and that the men’s wishes would be agreed to, providing no more slack is made by the shovel than by the other arrangement. This has given much satisfaction.

The wages now are 1s 4 ½d per ton for coal, and 6d per ton for slack, and this remuneration, it is stated, will not be materially affected.