Mexborough and Swinton Times November 22, 1895

The Denaby Main Strike

A Settlement Arrived at
What Did the Conciliation Board Settlement Mean?
Rumours of Free Labourers

Up to midday yesterday there was nothing new, nothing hopeful, and very little of any character whatsoever to report with respect to the situation of affairs at Denaby Main Colliery.

The deadlock continued, neither side having advanced to where the other could cry “Hold, content,” although events were tending that way, however slowly they were moved. On the surface, at any rate, nothing had been seen to lead to the conclusion that any progress towards a settlement had been made, and the matter remained in the position disclosed by the correspondence between the reverent RP Roseveare and Mr WH Chambers, published in our last issue.

The situation was that Mr Dipper, on behalf of the men, had submitted four suggestions as to the basis of a settlement, to the firm, through the reverent RP Rosebeare, in his character as mediator, and the manager had expressed his willingness to concede what was asked in two of the suggestions, and had declined the third, and expressed his inability to comply with the fourth.

The men were indisposed to surrender their claims in the last two instances, and hence the deadlock contained with, to use Mr Dipper’s words, on Monday, “No reason to hope for, nor any encouragement to believe in an early settlement of the dispute.”

Up to then of last week nothing had been heard from the Coalowners Association in reply to the letter of the men setting out their case in detail. On Saturday however, a letter received from Mr Parker Rhodes, in which he said practically that the Coalowners Association did not intend to take away steps to attempt a settlement of the dispute.

To this Mr Dipper, on behalf of the men, replied in a lengthy communication, pointing out that there was evidently a difference of opinion between the top men on strike and the manager of the colliery as well as his fellow associated Coal Owners as to what was the proper interpretation of the Conciliation Board agreement. In the same letter he gave the interpretation which the Joint Committee had itself given of the agreement as affecting top men, and asserted that the Denaby Main Company had not carried out the agreement as interpreted.

Much was hoped from the effect of this communication, the leaders of the men believing that if the Coalowners Association only require the Conciliation Board agreement to be carried out at Denaby as it had been elsewhere – which be remembered the men allege has not been the case – and which the Coalowners Association themselves said they would insist upon, then they must of necessity win on all the most important point of the dispute. Thus the only vital issue remaining question was asked what is a proper reading of the Consolation Board agreement relative to surface workmen, and from information obtained and published by the representatives of the men on strike, it must be admitted that at least they made out a strong case for their contention.

Since last week there have been several meetings of the topmen which the matter of the Consolation Board agreement was thrashed out.

A meeting was called on Saturday night in which their secretary, Mr Dipper, made known the information in his possession on the question and on Monday morning there was a public meeting which miners and the general public, at which Mr Dipper went into the facts of the dispute at length, and appealed to the miners to assist their fellow trade unionists in continuing the struggle.

There was some reference made to the possibility of “black – legs” been employed by the firm, but the rumours concerning these were only very vague, the references were of a general character and no steps were then taken. At the meeting on Saturday night, however, it was stated indefinitely during the day some men have been seen at the work of “slack washer,” it was then decided to appoint pickets to endeavour to stop them, and it was further agreed that the Strike Committee should form a deputation to the loco driver to endeavour to induce him to refrain from taking any further quantity of slack to the slack washer.

The work we understand, was not resumed on Monday morning, so that for the time, at any rate, trouble was avoided.

On Tuesday, however, a move was made by the men. A private meeting was called which was decided to send another deputation to the manager of the firm (Mr W.H.Chambers). This course was followed, and an interview the manager was obtained. The deputation was met in the most conciliatory spirit, and the result of the interview was of a far more satisfactory character than in any of the foregoing cases of a meeting between the employer and employee in relation to the dispute.

Terms were offered to the men which their leaders regarded in the light of an honourable settlement of the dispute. These were submitted to the men on Wednesday in a ballot taken, but this, owing to their not being two thirds of the men affected voting, was invalid and the second ballot was taken yesterday when by an overwhelming majority, the surface men agreed to accept the proposed terms and start the pit again.

The terms of the settlement is that the firm conceded to the men two of the three principal points raised by them, while the manager has promised to ascertain the custom of other collieries in the third case. With regard to the fourth point of the demand formulated by Mr Dipper, the men have apparently waived their claim.

This has ended the 12th strike which has occurred at the Denaby Main Colliery. The agreement arrived at between the parties to the dispute before an immediate resumption of work, but is probable that owing to the week being so far advanced, the pit will not resume work until Monday morning.