Dispute – Another Strike Threatened – Men Still Out Of Work

November 1895

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 29, 1895

The Denaby Main Dispute

Another Strike Threatened
Men Still Out Of Work
The Firm Accused of Breaking Its Agreement
Dissatisfaction Amongst Top Men
Further Deputation to the Manager

The trouble at Denaby Main colliery has not yet ended. A large number of the surface man recently on strike have not yet been permitted to return to work, and expressed themselves dissatisfied with explanations given by the management of the firm on account of this circumstance.

On Monday morning all the men who are not been set on again, assembled at the George and Dragon clubroom, where our representative was informed by member of the late strike committee that in his opinion the strike was not settled but was only just beginning.

He stated that while the number of the old hands were not being started at work, they were put off by saying that they would have to wait until things were put into working order before they were set on again, while a number of new men were being taken on.

Our representative subsequently walked out to Denaby Main Colliery to meet Mr Tom Hough who said he knew nothing of the employment of new men. On the contrary he believed the firm could not start all the old hands at once, in consequence of the repairs underground and above that would be required. Mr Hough also spoke of an interview he and the strike committee has had with Mr Chambers on the previous day (Sunday). They got Mr Chambers to ask you if it was true that Ulley, the foreman shunter, was to be dismissed, and Mr Chambers assured them that nothing of the kind of been determined upon.

Mr Hough also said they were informed by Mr Chambers that his eyes had been opened a good deal by what had occurred in the late strike, and for the future he would endeavour to talk more directly with the top men than had been the case in the past. Mr Hough further said that his impression from this interview was that the manager of the firm certainly intended to adhere to his agreement with the men, and that the men would get back to work again when the circumstances required them.

On Wednesday, however, the dissatisfaction of the men not yet started to work increased, and Mr Tom Hough was sent for. On arriving from Sheffield he consulted with the late strike committee, and it was resolved to send a deputation to the manager for a full explanation of the reason why so larger number of men had not yet been taken on again by the firm.

The report of the deputation did not give satisfaction to the men, so another deputation was sent to the firm yesterday.