Mexborough and Swinton Times November 8, 1895

The Strike at Denaby Main Colliery

The Negotiations Abandoned
Firm to the Bitter End
Reverent R P Roseveare Attempts the Part of Peacemaker
Further Deputation to Manager
No Settlement Arrived At
Communication with Conciliation Board

The second week of the strike of the surface workers at Denaby Main Colliery has been completed, and occupied through the greater part of that time  in trying to reopen negotiations and attempts to arrange a settlement of the dispute.  There is at present little prospect of a settlement being arrived at as ever there was, in the most gloomy moment of the dispute.

On what are regarded by both sides of the vital point of the dispute there has been a complete failure to arrive at any understanding, and the deadlock would appear beyond adjustment but for the fact that since the strike commenced the Company has kept upwards of a hundred men employed in the pit in keeping up the roads and other necessary work, this not being unnaturally regarded as a sign that the firm is prepared for an early return to work.

The renewal of the negotiation of a settlement was set on by the reverent R P Roseveare, curate in charge of Denaby Main, who last week had an interview with the leaders of the men on strike, and subsequently with the management. In consequence of a letter which he wrote to Mr Tom Hough making some suggestions, it was decided to send another deputation to Mr Chambers to endeavour to arrange mutually acceptable terms.

Mr Chambers saw the deputation Monday afternoon, but after a long interview they left without obtaining what they considered satisfactory terms, and their view was endorsed on Monday night when the men met and decided to continue the strike.

Meanwhile the district secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Labour had been in communication with the secretary of the Coalowners Association, who had intimated that prior to laying the matter before the Conciliation Board, data of the cases in dispute must be provided, and accordingly on Tuesday morning, when all hopes of effecting a settlement through the intervention of Mr Roseveare had been abandoned, Mr A.S. Dipper and Mr Tom Hough were occupied in taking particulars of the cases complain of by the workmen with the purpose of presenting the same to the Board of Conciliation.

While the latest negotiations were pending the meetings of the men were few, the latest preferring to await development before advocating any decided line. Mr Dipper, who arrived from Belfast on Saturday night, took up his abode in Mexborough for a day or two, and would expect to address the meeting on Sunday, but no meeting was held, nor was there any gathering on Sunday until late at night, when the deputation returned from its interview with Mr Chambers.

Practically the situation is without any immediate hope of a settlement, the attitude both of the firm and the topmen pointing to the continuations of the struggle to the bitter end, but at the same time there are signs, principally consisting of the fact that the colliery is being kept in working order, which render it hard to believe that a prolonged dispute was to be expected.

The leaders of the Underground workmen employed at Denaby are singularly sanguine of an early settlement been arrived at.

The writer in conversation with Mr Tennant, the secretary of the Denaby checkweigh fund, was informed by him on Sunday that the strike will not last longer than a fortnight, and intimated that he had reasons, which however he would not disclose, that by the end of that time the surface men will return to work. How much of this is to be dependend upon time will show, but it is remarkable that was such an apparently firm attitude between workmen and employers, there should be any anticipation of a speedy cessation of the strike.