Pony Drivers & Pit Boys Strike

June 1889

Bradford Daily Telegraph – Friday 07 June 1889

What threatened to become very serious strike Denaby Main Colliery has been settled.

The pony drivers and pit boys left their work in body on the ground of some fancied grievance, and the result was that 1,200 men were thrown idle.

Mr Pickard, M.P., and other officials of the Miners’ Union remonstrated with the lads at meeting on Thursday, and in the result the boys decided to resume work this morning.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Saturday 08 June 1889

The boys who have been on strike at Denaby Main Colliery returned to work yesterday morning. Their grievance was that when last advance of 10 per cent was granted the percentage was paid, not the boys’ weekly wages, but on their daily wage, and this, they said, meant considerable reduction.

A deputation waited on the manager yesterday and submitted their claims to him, and having received a satisfactory answer they consented to resume work