National Coal Strike – Meeting with Miners

October 1926

Mexborough & Swinton Times, October 8, 1926

Denaby and Cadeby

On Monday the Denaby and Cadeby branches of the Yorkshire Miners Association were invited to meet Mr H. C. Harrison, general manager of the company, to discuss the company’s terms on which they were prepared to reopen the pits. The Cadeby branch refused the invitation, and in speaking of the decision, Mr T. Farmer, chairman of the branch, said “I think the offer is like a piece of cheese to catch the mouse. I don’t think from one moment that district settlement will ever be any good to the workers of Yorkshire. We are out for our original mandate and we are still as determined to get it as we were when the fight started. We shall stand by Herbert Smith and Cook to a man.

The Denaby men accepted the invitation, however, and informally discussed the following terms presented by the management:

  1. Hours of work underground per shift, 7 ½ hours (Saturday, six hours)

Hours of work on the surface not to be exceeded 49 per week.

2a. Wages percentage payable on 1911 basis rates to the end of February 1927, equal 46.67 per cent,

2b. The allowance under clause 6 and the Anomalies Agreement will be discontinued, but the Subsistence Wage at 6d per shift will be continued until further notice with a maximum gross wage of 8s. 9d.

2c. The 12.2% addition to underground piece workers rates will be discontinued, also the 5%. Tooth surface piece workers.

  1. The percentage for March, 1927 and each month following will be calculated on district monthly ascertainments, provided as follows:

(a) that the minimum percentage on the 1911 basis rates from 1st March, 1927, onward is 32%, subject to effective recoupment, and

(b) of the surplus after deducting costs of production other than wages from net proceeds of sale of coal, five Pound per cent. Shall go to wages after deducting cost of subsistence wage.

These terms were discussed by the Denaby and Cape branches, on Wednesday, and under the chairmanship of Mr T. Farmer, a private meeting was held at the Station Hotel, Conisborough.

The terms were rejected. None of the men had offered themselves for work.