South Yorkshire Times, November 19, 1966

The Scheme to Integrate Denaby and Cadeby Pits.
Board Plan to Effect It In The Near Future

The National coal Board are going ahead with plans to integrate Denaby and Cadeby collieries which together employ about 2500 men and produced nearly 900,000 tons of coal a year.

Common Services

An N. C. B. Spokesman told the “South Yorkshire times” this week that the pits already shared common services. Coal from Denaby is wound and cleaned at Cadeby and parts of the ventilation system are shared. “We are now going ahead with plans to complete the integration of these two very important collieries in the near future, their idea being that by closer integration we can have greater efficiency,” he said.

Union reaction to the proposals: Coun. T. Ryan, Denaby N.U.M. branch secretary, told the “South Yorkshire times” on Monday, “I am a little surprised that the extent of the proposals released to the press before we as a union branch, have been told this much officially.”

Manpower

The N. C. B spokesman added, “so far as the men are concerned it is unlikely to have any major effect on manpower requirements at either of the existing units.” They had not yet gone into all the details of the proposals but they felt that physically integration would not make “an awful lot of difference”. Managership of the integration colleries would be upgraded to colliery general manager, a post created about two years ago for those in charge of really big pits. With greater efficiency it could mean that the number 3 (Rotherham) area would have another pit producing more than a million tons a year.

Last year

It was only last year that Denaby colliery was listed as a pit with a doubtful future, and the spokesman said the manager should help to ensure the future of the pit.

Consultations have begun with the unions and will continue at all levels throughout the merger programme. A date for final integration has not been fixed. Cadeby employs about 1500 and produces 590,000 tons annually, Denaby employs about 1000 and its output is 300,000 tons a year.

“Not surprised”

Referring to a meeting between officials of the N. C. B. and representatives of N. A. C. O. D. S. and of the Denaby and Cadeby N. U. M. Branches, Coun, Ryan said: we were told that each pit would retain its own identity but that a general manager would be appointed, with a deputy general manager.

“We are not surprised to hear that both pits would become one unit, but we were not told this at the meeting. Considering that all the new developments are centred around the Denaby pit bottom we think that we should know all the details of the exact plans the board have in mind. The effect of reorganisation of management etc., is, at this time, a matter of conjecture and we are not yet aware of the full implications.”