new Hall, and a return was taken as to the mode of procedure. The
place of meetings had been on a movable plan. At first the Committee
meetings were held in 58 North Road, Durham. Then both Councils and
Committees were held in the Market Hall. As the organisation increased
the Councils alternated between the Shakespeare Hall and the Town
Hall, and the Committees in the Western Hotel, Western Hill, Durham.
The opening of the Hall took place on Saturday, June 3rd, the occasion
being the consideration of a ten per cent. reduction at a special
Council meeting. The cost of the buildings was £6000, and the
architect, Mr T. Oliver, Newcastle--the council-room fifty-two feet by
thirty-four; the tower thirty feet above the body of the Hall. The
clock cost £130. The arrangements as to the lighting of the clock are:
the city authorities pay for the gas, while the miners keep the clock
in repair. For some time the City Council refused to bear the charge
for lighting, and at first only agreed for six months as a trial.
There was no opening ceremony beyond a few words from the president,
Mr Forman. The delegates took their places as per number of seat. Mr
Forman then said he was glad to welcome them to their new Hall.
"The noble building had been built with the money of the working
miners of the county of Durham. It was a great example of their
forethought, their economy, industry, enterprise and unity, and he
hoped that it would be one more link that would bind them together in
the cause of mutual help and mutual endeavour, and be another great
supporting prop to the noble edifice they had reared in their
Association. He was sorry that the first business at the opening was
to be the unpleasant one of discussing a ten per cent. reduction."
The first Council meeting was held in the new Hall on 17th June, and
the first resolution was "that we refuse to send the reduction
question to arbitration." The spirit of war was in the air, at least
among the men who attended the lodge meeting to consider the subject
at first. During the next week, however, a ballot of the members was
taken, the result of which was declared at a special Council
meeting--the voting being for arbitration, 20,190; against, 16,435;
majority for, 3,755. There were resolutions passed to remit the
question to open arbitration: That the Committee get up the case, but
"if any person has to accompany the arbitrators out of the county,
only the two men who conduct the case do so." At the same meeting Mr
N. Thompson and T. Mitcheson (two of the London Committee) were
removed from the trusteeship, and their places filled by John Wilson,
Wheatley Hill, and W. Gordon, Ravensworth.
The arbitration commenced on 29th August in the Queen's Head Hotel,
Newcastle, the umpire being G. J. Shaw-Lefevre, M.P. The arbitrators
for the employers were Mr W. Armstrong and H. T. Morton, Mr L. Jones
and Mr W. Crawford acting again for the workmen. The advocates on the
owners' side were Mr Lindsay Wood and Mr J. B. Simpson and Mr T. W.
Bunning; for the workmen were Mr J. Forman and Mr N. Wilkinson. There
were two sittings. There is no need to review the arguments or facts
in these cases, as that would extend our work too much, but there is
one interesting point advanced by the employers in their rejoinder to
the workmen's case. It refers to the cost of production at that time
over 1871. The increase was thirty-seven or thirty-five per cent.
higher than 1871--the items being, wages 14.68 per cent., and the
effect of the Mines Bill 22.67 per cent. Assuming that the cost
arising from the operation of the mines was divided between employers
and workmen--eleven per cent. to each--there was still 26.35 per cent.
to the disadvantage of the employer. On the credit side coal was only
5½ or 8.8 per cent. higher than in 1871, and therefore their
conclusion was that the claim for fifteen and ten per cent. reduction
was amply justified. At the conclusion of the two days' sitting it was
agreed that the arbitrators should meet on the 16th of September, and
if they failed to agree the umpire would decide. That meeting took
place, and the umpire was asked to decide, which he did on September
25th, and awarded a reduction of six per cent. in the wages
underground and four per cent. in the wages paid to surface men.
No sooner was the arbitration finished than the Association found
itself face to face with a difficulty of a different but yet
perplexing nature. The employers conceived the idea of separating the
deputies from the miners. Their reasons for taking this step are
stated in a subsequent letter. The mode of procedure they adopted was
to exempt the deputies from the six per cent. reduction, providing a
majority of the deputies on any colliery would leave the Miners'
Association. The employers said their action was in response to a
request by some of the deputies. The action drew from the Executive
Committee a strong remonstrance. They pleaded with the deputies and
protested against the action of the owners. The circular they issued
was a lengthy one. Our object will be served if we quote a few
portions. Addressing the deputies, they said:
"It appears in response to some application made by some of you the
Owners' Committee have agreed that where a majority of deputies on
any colliery are not members of ours, they will recommend that such
deputies be freed from the recent reduction. Call this offer by what
name you will it is neither more nor less than a special kind of
bribery held out to you and we regret to hear, that some of you have
been imprudent enough to accept it. Why make this difference between
those who belong and those who do not belong to our Association? It
is not because they respect the one party more than the other, or
that the party who have left us are any better workmen or in any way
more useful to the owners than those deputies who still belong to our
Association. The most unknown amongst you as to your past history, or
the most casual observer of present doings, ought to know that the
motive which has induced the Owners' Committee to make this offer is
not respect for you as a class, is not because they think your
responsibilities are increased more than heretofore, neither is it
because they think you underpaid, but it is because they want to
induce you to sever your connection with an Association which has
hitherto been able to gain many advantages for members and for none
more than for your class. They offer you an inch now in order that
they may take from you a foot hereafter. Most of you can remember the
time (only five years ago) when your wages varied from 3s. 4d. to 3s.
8d. per day of eight hours' working, while with the recent reduction
of six per cent. your wages are now 4s. 8d. for 7½ hours' working,
or an advance in time and money of 39.58 per cent."
The circular then draws attention to a portion of a letter from the
deputies who had left the miners to those of another colliery, and to
the resolution of the Owners' Association. The portion of the
deputies' letter said:
"If any member of our [the Deputies'] Association leaves and starts
to hew, and has to go back to the Hewers' Association, the two
pounds' entrance fee will be paid out of the Deputies' Association."
The resolution of the Owners read:
That this Association thinks that deputies, like overmen, should be
the agents of the masters, and that under these circumstances it is
imperative that they should not be restricted by any Trades Union
resolutions.
In relation to these the Committee point out that they (the deputies)
could not honestly be members even of the Deputies' Association, for
by the stipulation of the employers they were not to be restricted by
any Trade Union regulations. "It will thus be seen that if you do
this, you sell your birthright, your independence, your manhood, your
all, not even for a necessitous 'mess of pottage' but for an
insignificant present advantage, in order that you may bring upon
yourselves a future permanent and great evil."
Some of the deputies were desirous of serving two masters: they wanted
to remain in the Miners' and at the same time enter the Deputies'
Association for the sake of the six per cent. At the Council held on
Saturday, 30th September, a resolution was carried declaring "that the
Deputies be not allowed to remain in our Association and also become
members of what is called the Deputies' Association." At the same time
a sharp correspondence took place between the Owners' Association and
the Miners', in which Mr Bunning sent a letter, bearing date 3rd
November, which contained a protest and an extenuation.
_November 3rd, 1876._
RESOLUTION OF COAL OWNERS
The members of this Association regret that the Representatives of
the Miners' Association after five years' amicable correspondence,
should have thought it necessary to communicate to them so
uncourteous and offensive a document as that bearing date 24th
October 1876, and relating to the resolution passed respecting the
deputies, on October 11th, 1876. And, as this resolution was arrived
at after mature deliberation, and from the conviction that both the
safety of the mine, and discipline of the pits, are seriously
endangered, by having the deputies subject to the restrictions
imposed by the Miners' Union, no good can possibly arise from any
discussion of the subject at a meeting of the two Associations.
[Illustration: JOHN FORMAN]
The reply sent by the Executive repudiated all intention to be
uncourteous or offensive in language, but at the same time they
repeated the charge of bribery, for, said they, "viewed from the most
favourable standpoint, your action in the matter can only be
characterised as that of holding out a manifestly unfair inducement to
the deputies." They asked what the employers would have thought, if,
having the power, the Miners' Association had held out inducements to
charge men? They reminded the owners that they asked for a reduction
off all wages, and the award of six per cent. applied to all
underground labour. Considering these facts they could not but look
upon the action as a covert attack on the Association.
The Executive acting on instruction from Council took a return, which
resulted as follows:--
Total number of Deputies--2557.
Total number in our Association--936.
Total number in Deputies' Association--1621.
Total number paid old wage--1449.
Total number paid reduced wage--1044.
1877
Deputies--Sliding Scale--Relief Fund--Emigration
The dispute about the deputies opened the year. A very lengthy
correspondence took place on the subject between the Employers' and
Miners' Associations. On January 23rd the whole of it was sent to the
lodges. They were informed that the Committee had done all they could
to avert a conflict on the question. In keeping with a resolution of
Council, the owners had been offered arbitration, which they had
refused. The resolution referred to contained the alternative of
giving the whole of the notices providing arbitration was refused.
Now, to carry out the instructions contained in that resolution the
Committee forwarded the ballot tickets for the purpose of taking the
vote in accordance with the rule. They concluded by saying: "Whatever
the result may be arising out of this case the entire onus of blame
must rest with the owners themselves." A resolution was placed on the
programme for Council on February 3rd by the ex-Committee asking "that
the deputies who are still with us be paid the 6 per cent. out of the
General Fund of the Association," but it lost. In addition, the
subject was laid before the Central Board of the Miners' National
Union. They expressed regret and surprise at the action of the
employers in paying one portion of the deputies more than the others,
and were of the opinion "that there can only be one object in view in
this policy, the disruption of the Miners' Union. The Board earnestly
appeal to the mine owners to withdraw from the position they have
taken up. Should they fail to do this the Board will feel called upon
to ask the members of the National Union to yield all the support to
the Durham Miners' Association they can under the circumstances."
Nothing further was done in the matter during 1877 except an
occasional Council resolution. We shall, however, meet the same
question in a few years.
THE FIRST SLIDING SCALE
Early in the year the Association was entering seriously into a new
phase of our industrial relation with the employers and taking
another step in the path of amicability by the arrangement of the
sliding scale. For some time there had been an inclination in that
direction. By the Minutes of the Executive Committee members were
informed that negotiations were proceeding with a view to establishing
a scale, and at the Council meeting held on December 9th, 1876, the
following resolution was on the programme:--"Seeing that coals are up,
we ask for 25 per cent. advance." The decision was that the question
rest over until the sliding scale question is settled.
On February 16th a letter was received from the employers containing
the following resolution:--
"This Association having anxiously considered the further serious
depression in the Durham coal trade and the necessity for
endeavouring to avert in some prompt and thorough manner the complete
collapse which has set in to the ruin of many owners, and the casting
adrift of large bodies of men, feels compelled to ask the Miners'
Association to concur in a further reduction in wages and
readjustment of hours."
The Executive Committee met the owners on Thursday, February 22nd,
when they were informed that the depressed trade and lower prices
demanded a reduction of ten per cent. from underground and six per
cent. from the bank workmen, "coupled with an increase in the working
hours which would, in a great measure, compensate the men for the
reduction in their wages." The Committee could neither see the
necessity for a reduction nor could they see the compensation in the
lengthening of hours. They, however, arranged another meeting for
Friday, 9th March, when they would further discuss the sliding scale,
and, failing that, the reduction. In the statement explaining these
proceedings the Committee placed before the members two scales--one
proposed by them and the other by the owners. It will be interesting
and instructive to give these scales.
_December 22nd, 1876._
SLIDING SCALE PROPOSED BY THE DURHAM COAL OWNERS
Price Wage
s. d. Per cent. s. d.
5 2 0 4 8.0
5 10 5 4 10.8
6 6 10 5 1.6
7 2 15 5 4.4
7 10 20 5 7.2
8 6 25 5 10.0
9 2 30 6 0.8
9 10 35 6 3.6
10 6 40 6 6.4
11 2 45 6 9.2
11 10 50 7 0.0
12 6 55 7 2.8
13 2 60 7 5.6
_January 2nd, 1877._
SLIDING SCALE AS PROPOSED BY THE DURHAM MINERS' ASSOCIATION
Price Wage
s. d. Per cent. s. d.
5 6 0 5 0
6 2 5 5 3
6 10 10 5 6
7 6 15 5 9
8 2 20 6 0
8 10 25 6 3
9 6 30 6 6
10 2 35 6 9
10 10 40 7 0
11 6 45 7 3
12 2 50 7 6
12 10 55 7 9
13 6 60 8 0
In the explanation sent out it was shown that each scale would carry a
minimum wage. Theirs would be five shillings, while the employers'
would be 4s. 8d. The wages in the scale were for coal hewers only. The
reduction the employers were asking for would bring the wages down
twopence per man below the lowest wages offered in the owners' scale.
They asked the members to leave the question entirely in their hands,
as in their opinion a better settlement would be got than by any other
way. A special Council was called for the 8th of March, and two
subjects were sent out for discussion--(1) Should a sliding scale be
adopted; if so, under what condition? (2) Should the owners be offered
arbitration? The result was that the arranging of the scale was placed
in the hands of the Committee, and on 14th March the first sliding
scale was signed for two years.
THE FIRST SCALE
The following scale shall regulate the wages of hewers and labour
below ground:--
SCALE
Price
at and above but below Wage
5 4 7½ per cent. reduction
5 4 5 8 5 " "
5 8 6 4 Present Rate
6 4 7 0 5 per cent. advance
7 0 7 8 10 " "
7 8 8 4 15 " "
8 4 9 0 20 " "
9 0 9 8 25 " "
9 8 10 4 30 " "
10 4 11 0 35 " "
11 0 11 8 40 " "
11 8 12 4 45 " "
12 4 13 0 50 " "
13 0 13 8 55 " "
13 8 60 " "
And so on.
It will be observed that the grades were eightpence, and for that
amount the change in wages was four per cent. Next, there was to be a
minimum wage of 4s. 8½d. per day. This is worthy of special notice
in the light of subsequent events, especially during the time the
minimum existed, which was until 1879, and especially in view of the
desire of many people to have a minimum established again. Another
point was the amount of reduction, which would depend upon an
ascertainment by accountants. Messrs Monkhouse, Goddard & Miller acted
for the owners, and Messrs Benson, Eland & Co. for the workmen. The
ascertainment was made known on the 31st of March, the average net
price realised being certified at 5s. 3.97d. The Committee
accompanied the ascertainment with a short circular, and informed the
members "that a reduction of 7½ per cent. on underground men and
boys and 'banksmen' wages and 6 per cent. on 'bankmen's' wages will
take place on the pays commencing April 2nd and April 9th."
THE FIRST RELIEF FUND
As a consequence of the depressed state of trade very large numbers of
men were thrown out of work, and the rules of the Association made no
provision for them. Opinion had been ripening for some months, and the
Committee realising that the time was opportune, and acting on a
Council resolution, suggested the formation of a Relief Fund. In
furtherance of the object they sent out the following:--
SUGGESTIONS FOR RELIEF FUND
Fellow Workmen,--At last Council meeting, you put into the hands of
the Committee, the work of suggesting some plan to relieve the
numbers of men now idle at various collieries in the county. After
mature consideration, they suggest the following as a means of
forming a Relief Fund:--
1. To take from the General Fund the sum of five thousand
pounds to form the nucleus of such Relief Fund.
2. That this Fund be afterwards kept up by the payment of a levy, or
extra contribution, of 2d. per member per fortnight.
These two are the basis of their suggestions, details can be
discussed and arranged afterwards. But to make these suggestions--and
especially the second one--a success, the Committee believe that the
county will require to have brought before them our exact position.
The best, if not the only, means of doing this is to hold a series of
public meetings at the various lodges and districts in the county,
grouping lodges together where such can be done. What they now ask
is, can they have your consent to assist the agents in attending such
a series of public meetings? It is the only means of rendering
successful the getting of necessary means and would not cost more
than an ordinary Council meeting.
In support of their proposals they adopted two modes of
advocacy--first, to issue a circular, and second, to hold a series of
meetings at all the lodges. This latter step they considered most
essential, as they would thus be enabled to state the matter more
clearly by speech and answer to the members. This view they placed
before the lodges, and received sanction with very little objection;
and, acting upon it, they arranged themselves into deputations of two
each, and for about three weeks either addressed lodge meetings or
groups of collieries where convenient, and as a consequence the Relief
Fund was formed on the lines suggested. While it existed it proved
itself a very useful institution for that period, which was the
darkest through which the Association had to pass.
The amount paid, although small, was useful to the public as well as
the members--to the latter by easing off the pinch of poverty, and to
the former by the help to the rates, which would assuredly have been
much more heavily weighted if the fund had not existed. It only
existed a year, however, for the Committee placed a statement before
the county on November 2nd which showed that, while there had only
been £4144 contributed to the Relief Fund, the expenditure had been
£9695, and that, adding the £5000 grant from the General Fund, the
expenditure had exceeded by £551 the whole amount paid into it.
EMIGRATION AGENCY
During 1876 and up to July 1877 the agents had acted as emigration
agents, and had been very useful in their advice to people who were
inclined to emigrate by giving them advice upon points and matters of
importance to them. All they did was done free of charge, and only
with the view to help those who were members of the Association; but
as in every movement there are men of the "viler sort," whose envy
prompts them to attribute ill motives to those they envy, so in this
case there were some who, instead of giving the agents credit for good
motives, were not slow to charge them with selfishness and exploiting
the volume of emigration for their own benefit. The agents bore this
until the Council meeting held on July 21st, when Mr Crawford and his
colleagues resolved to give it up. In doing so they gave their reasons
in the following circular:--
EMIGRATION AGENCY
_To the Members._
Gentlemen,--As announced at Council Meeting on Saturday last, we
intend to give up the agency. It was taken with two objects--(1) To
have ourselves well posted up in emigration news, so that we might be
able to give the best advice possible; (2) to aid our members by
allowing them the commission money, which is a very important item
indeed. It was not taken with the view of making one penny of profit,
but solely to assist our members by advice and also an abatement of
their fares. But as some poltroon fellows, who are directly
interested in getting emigrants in order that they may get the
commission money, are causing some stir, and as, further, some of our
lodges are listening to their statements, we think it necessary to
give it up. You will be the only losers by it, but remember that it
is amongst our own members that the real grumblers are found.
1878
The Hours Arbitration--Position of the Association--Federation Board
The first item of interest in 1878 was initiated on 15th March by a
letter received from the employers _re_ the lengthening of the
coal-drawing hours. It was addressed to Mr Crawford as follows:--
Dear Sir,--I am desired to inform you that the present state of the
coal trade in Durham seems to render it imperative to extend the
hours of work and increase the facilities for drawing coal. And that
the members of this Association would be glad to discuss the matter
with you and your Committee with a view to arriving at some decision
on the subject.
Could you fix Thursday next, the 21st, at two o'clock to meet our
Committee here? An answer at your earliest convenience will oblige.
The Executive met the employers as requested, and found that the
change was to increase from ten hours to eleven all the collieries
working ten hours, that drawing time being the outcome of an
arrangement. The owners were reminded that it was inconsistent with
the sliding scale, and the demand should be withdrawn. They replied by
quoting a portion of the scale: "Both parties shall remain at liberty
to raise any question not inconsistent with the maintenance of the
sliding scale." "Should any dispute arise as to the carrying out of
these arrangements the question in dispute shall be submitted to the
chairman of the Joint Committee, who, if he cannot act, shall appoint
some other umpire to act in his place. The award in either case to be
final." These were discussed at great length; finally three proposals
suggested by the Executive Committee, subject to the approval of their
members, were agreed to:
1st. Is it consistent with the sliding scale to even discuss a
lengthening of the hours?
2nd. If it is consistent with the sliding scale to discuss the
matter, is it necessary to lengthen such hours?
3rd. If the hours are lengthened, should there follow any increase in
wages, and if so, how much?