by the more reprehensible practice of dismissing portions of men, in
proof of which we can testify that men were personally canvassed, and
if not found pliable were threatened and coerced. That reductions
took place, and, as the owners state, in some cases they amounted to
20 per cent., is correct, thus making the wages of numerous bodies of
hewers (in place of reaching the owners asserted 4s. 8d. or 5s. per
day) fall far below even 4s. per day and proving what we have all
along stated, that the average wages of the best paid class of men in
the county, viz.--the hewers, are at least 10 per cent. and even more
below the rate named by the owners. This proves the inability of our
men to suffer any further reduction.
In their rejoinder the employers returned to the subject. They
asserted that for two years the great bulk of the owners had kept
faith with the workmen, at a loss to themselves when the selling price
fell below the scale. In the cases where arrangements had been made
they had been assisted and concurred in by the Miners' Executive. "We
assert and challenge contradiction that the Executive were parties,
if not to every abatement of wage in 1878-79, most certainly they
were parties to many, and hence the folly of accusing the owners of
conniving at the reductions when the Executive were straining every
nerve to assist them, with the object, as we again assert, of saving
their Union funds."
In addition to the general poverty of the workmen through low wages
and slack work the Committee had to face a serious disorganisation. At
some very large collieries the numbers had decreased very much. This
fact was as well known to the owners as the Committee, for it was
brought out very prominently at the meeting with the employers, when
the Committee made the offer of ten and seven and a half per cent. as
a full settlement. One of the employers, urging the acceptance of
their claim, said: "There are a large number of men outside the Union,
and these are not with you. The logic of events will decide the
issue." The reply of one of the Executive was: "You mean the logic of
circumstances, the logic of the cupboard. You have a good ally in our
poverty."
Then there was a sadly depleted fund, which in itself was sufficient
to fill them with pessimism, for every man deserving of being at the
head of Trade Unions is bound to feel when faced by these
circumstances--not in a cowardly manner, but a feeling evolved out of
the dark background of poverty and hunger, not of men, but of the
children. There was only £22,688 in property and bank. From this was
to be deducted £4861 as money invested in the Industrial Bank and
Houghton and Shotton Workmen's Hall, which was not available for
strike purposes; therefore the war chest was very small, especially
to enter upon a struggle such as lay before them.
In the face of these adverse circumstances--owners persistent in their
demands, wages very low, partial disorganisation, small resources, and
an angry people--the Committee stood firm. Their attitude was
unflinching, and their advice fearless and clear, as witness the
following quotation from a circular:--
The time has now come when there must be unmistakably plain speaking.
It is now clear, beyond a doubt, that if you persist in your
adherence to open arbitration alone, the owners will allow the
sliding scale to run out without further interference or negotiation
and at the end of that time they will take all that they can get,
either along the whole line or piecemeal, whichever course may best
suit their purpose, by enabling them to punish you by lowering wages
and reintroducing pernicious practices. To attempt to fight at the
present time without offering the terms which we shall further on
advise you to offer, would be suicidal. Look around you, and what do
you find? On every hand you can count idle men by hundreds and
thousands. Many of these men have been idle for weeks and months. All
their means have long since been spent, and they are waiting for
work, begging for work, and cannot find it. We have spent in two
years over strikes amongst our own members, at large and small
collieries, nearly one hundred thousand pounds and there is not a
single strike, either of large or small dimensions, where we have not
signally failed.
The offer mentioned in the above was a ten per cent. off underground
men and seven and a half per cent. off surface men as a final
settlement, or seven and a half per cent. off underground wages and
six per cent. off surface wages, and any further claim referred to
open arbitration. The circular was submitted to a Council, and
refused, but Mr Crawford was instructed to offer open arbitration on
the whole question. This was done by telegram:
To T. W. Bunning, Coal Trade Hall, Newcastle.
Open arbitration having for many years been resorted to by your
Association and ours in the settlement of wages questions, our
members again wish to have recourse to it in the settlement of your
present demand for a further reduction of wages.
On the same day a reply was received:
W. Crawford, 16 North Road, Durham.
The following resolution was passed by a full meeting of the
Employers' Association before the receipt of your telegram and has
since been unanimously confirmed--At a meeting of this body held
to-day arrangements were made for giving notice to expire on April
5th to all men whose wages have been hitherto regulated by the Durham
Miners' sliding scale, that from that date underground wages will be
reduced fifteen and surface wages ten per cent.
It will be seen the offer of the owners confines it to the miners, as
they alone were in the scale. This modification of demand and threat
of notice was sent out in a circular on the 17th of March. They
reviewed the whole situation both at home and in other counties. At
home, within the previous six days, four collieries had received
notice for depression of trade. In South Wales heavy reductions had
taken place. In Scotland nearly the whole of the notices had been
served for further reductions, while wages were as low as 2s. 6d. per
day. In other parts of the country a similar state of things existed.
In stating these matters there was no attempt to terrify. It was a
simple statement of facts. It would require the pen of a master to
place before them a true picture of "all the comparative and positive
destitution to be found in the houses of thousands of men at the
present time. With this dreadfully adverse condition of things is it
possible to go into a struggle with a body of men, strong in their own
cause, determined to fight, and who have every possible advantage on
their side? To do so can only end in results the most damaging to our
organisation and ruinous to ourselves and families. True valour is not
shown in reckless and heedless action, but by waiting until a foe can
be met on at least equal terms." It was no use offering arbitration,
for the owners had persistently refused that. They urged the whole
matter should be left in the hands of somebody chosen by themselves to
make the best settlement they could. The voting at the Council was
taken on the two questions: the Committee's suggestion or arbitration.
The result was 118 for the former and 155 for the latter--being a
majority of 37 for open arbitration on the whole question.
It will be obvious that the tendency of the owners' offer only being
made to the miners would be to disintegrate. It would not be right to
say such was the intention, yet that was assuredly the bias. The
justification lies in this, the miners were the only parties to the
scale at its formation. None of the other sections were parties to it,
and therefore the negotiations only applied to them. The terms of the
requests were very embracive: they are "underground wages" and
"surface wages." This is certain, that no division took place. The
action, right or wrong, was as solid as could be expected.
The voting on the questions, Committee suggestion or arbitration, did
not give a satisfactory decision, and a second ballot was taken on the
questions: "Strike" or "Owners' terms," with a result that the workmen
refused the terms. The strike was entered upon, the notices
terminating on 5th April. Some of the managers threatened to withhold
the wages until the houses were vacant, and it was feared that this
might provoke disturbance. Notice was sent out by the Committee, in
which the action of such managers was condemned as "not only an
illegal, but also an inhuman act." "But whatever course they may
adopt, either in this or any other matter, be very careful not to be
guilty of any breach of the law. Let nothing induce you to pursue a
course which at all times is to be deplored, but which just now would
be aggravated into the most heinous of crimes." As a result the
conduct during the strike was most commendable, the only persons
suffering being the Committee and Federation Board.
There were certain collieries to whom notice was not given, and the
Committee felt it necessary to ask whether these should continue
working or give in their notices. The returns of the voting were 224
for stopping the whole of the collieries and only 7 for working on.
They were, therefore, ordered to give in their notices, and
instructions were sent out as to the mode of procedure. That vote was
taken on April 22nd, but on the 30th at a special Council meeting it
was qualified by the following resolution:--
"This meeting deems it highly necessary that all those firms ought to
be allowed to work their pits who will agree to arbitration as a
settlement of their difficulties, or who will agree to a continuation
of present prices without being affected by any county change."
An offer was made to the enginemen, which their representative brought
before the Federation Board. At the meeting on April 21st they were
advised "to only take such a reduction as the sliding scale would have
warranted them in asking, had it been operative downwards as well as
upwards. Should this be refused by the owners, this board would
further recommend the enginemen, mechanics and cokemen who are yet
employed to give in their notices and thus legally terminate their
agreement."
The Board met again on the 28th of April, when the enginemen reported
a change in their position, and the following resolution was passed:--
This meeting has heard with satisfaction that the owners on Saturday
last offered the enginemen open arbitration in the settlement of
their present wages difficulty. But it cannot but express its
surprise at the conduct of the owners in so determinedly refusing to
adopt the same principle in the settlement of the wages difficulty
now existing between the miners and them. If the adoption of
arbitration in the enginemen's case would have been a right and
equitable way of settling, it surely must be right also in the case
of the miners.
So the strike proceeded. The Committee were formed into a Strike
Committee, with full power to manage it. They were called upon to
defend themselves in the press. Every effort was made to get help from
other districts. On the 4th of May a communication was received from
the owners.
COPY OF A RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AT A MEETING OF THE DURHAM
COAL OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, May 3rd, 1879
The Durham Coal Owners' Association recognising
(1) That the public, as well as private interests, so seriously
prejudiced by the strike, render it a duty to adopt a course most
likely to bring about a settlement;
(2) That the proposition for each side appointing a Committee with
the full powers seems to have met with general approval;
(3) That such Committee would undoubtedly provide the means by which
difficult negotiations can be most successfully conducted;
Resolves:
That a Committee of 14 members of this Association be and are hereby
appointed to meet a similar Committee, if such should be appointed by
the Miners' Association, with full power to settle the matter at
issue.
That the foregoing Resolution be communicated to the Miners'
Association, and they be invited to adopt a similar course.
The Committee in response to that Resolution met the Owners'
Committee on Saturday, the 10th of May, but failed to come to any
agreement, and the meeting was adjourned until the 14th. The county
was informed of the failure, and told to remain as they were until
they heard from the Committee again. Mr Forman and Mr Crawford met Mr
L. Wood and Mr D. Dale on the 14th. No settlement was come to as to
amount of reduction, but it was arranged there should be a _pro tem_.
arbitration, with Mr Bradshaw, County Court Judge, as umpire. The
arrangement was that there should be an arbitration to say how the
collieries should commence, and a second case after work was resumed
to decide what further reduction should be granted. The preliminary
case was heard on May 15th, and Judge Bradshaw, after passing in
review the various stages of the dispute, decided "that there should
be an absolute reduction in wages of 8¾ per cent. on underground
and of 6¾ per cent. on surface labour, to take effect from that
date, and the question whether any further reduction should be made
be left to a future arbitration."
AWARD
In the matter of disputes relating to wages between the coal owners,
members of the Durham Coal Owners' Association, and their workmen,
members of the Durham Miners' Association:
Whereas the owners claimed a considerable reduction of wages, to take
effect from the fifth day of April last, and the miners refusing to
accept such reductions the collieries in the county of Durham have
for some time been, and still are idle.
And whereas, with a view of settling the matter in difference
between them, the Owners' Association appointed a Committee of 14
persons, and the Miners' Committee appointed a Committee of like
number, with full power to determine the question at issue.
And whereas, after long negotiations, the Owners' Committee deputed
to Messrs Lindsay Wood and David Dale, and the Miners' Committee
deputed to Messrs William Crawford and John Forman, their respective
powers.
And whereas, the said Lindsay Wood, David Dale, William Crawford, and
John Forman having applied to me, the undersigned, for my advice and
decision in the premises, and have laid before me the following
statements, which are admitted by the parties on both sides,
namely:--
1. That on February 20th last, the owners offered to accept an
absolute reduction in wages of 10 per cent. on underground, and 7½
per cent. on surface labour, and to leave to arbitration the question
whether any, and what further reduction should be made.
2. That on April 2nd last, the Miners' Association offered to concede
an absolute reduction in wages of 7½ per cent. on underground, and
6 per cent. on surface labour, and to leave to arbitration the
question, whether any, and what further reduction should be made.
3. That on the 10th inst., the Owners' Committee offered to accept an
absolute reduction in wages of 8¾ per cent. on underground and
6¾ per cent. on surface labour, and to leave to arbitration the
question, whether any, and what further reduction should be made.
4. That on the 10th inst., the Miners' Committee offered to concede an
absolute reduction in wages of 6¼ per cent. on underground, and 5
per cent. on surface labour, and to leave to arbitration whether
any, and what further reduction should be made.
Now, I, the undersigned, having duly weighed and considered the
foregoing statement, and what has been alleged before me by the
respective parties, _Do Decide and Award_, that there be an absolute
reduction in wages of 8¾ per cent. on underground, and of 6¾
per cent. on surface labour, to take effect from the date of these
presents; and the question, whether any, and what further reduction
should be made, be left to future arbitration.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in duplicate, this
fifteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
THOS. BRADSHAW.
Then there arose a dispute as to whether it were competent for the men
to show cause before the future arbitrator why there should be a
rebatement of the eight and three quarters and six and three quarters
per cent. It was again referred to the umpire. He decided that the
contention of the workmen's representatives could not be sustained.
The employers accepted his decision as an instalment of their claim,
and to get the pits to work, but they in no way waived or relinquished
their right to refer to arbitration, whether or not they were entitled
to any, and if any, what further reduction over and above the absolute
reduction by his award.
That definition the Committee accepted. Immediately the spirit of
revolt ran through the county, and for a few days some lodges objected
to resume work. Whenever the Executive appeared they were greeted with
cries of "Judge Bradshaw" and "Eight and three quarters." Gradually
the resumption of work became universal, and on the 22nd of July the
arbitration was opened, with Lord Derby as umpire, in 12 Great George
Street, London. Mr W. Armstrong and Mr D. Dale were arbitrators for
the employers, with Mr L. Jones and Mr W. Crawford for the workmen.
Advocates for the owners were H. T. Morton, L. Wood, and W. T.
Bunning; for the employees J. Forman, N. Wilkinson, and W. H.
Patterson. The names of the Executive Committee were:
W. Johnson.
G. Newton.
J. Scott.
J. Bell.
W. R. Fairley.
W. Robinson.
W. Longstaff.
G. Parker.
W. Gordon.
J. Wilson.
There were two days' sittings, and on the 28th of July Lord Derby gave
his award. He said it was agreed that the award should apply to all
underground and surface men, except enginemen, firemen, joiners,
smiths, masons, labourers, and cokemen. He awarded a reduction of one
and a quarter per cent. in the present rate of wages paid to
underground and surface men affected by his award.
Thus ended a stoppage of work--it is a misnomer to call it a
strike--which should never have taken place. The men from the first
were ready to appeal to reason, and the final decision proved the
Executive Committee right in their offer. There is a closer spirit
abroad now. The county has been in an atmosphere of amicability. May
that better state take full possession and the day of strikes be gone
for ever.
[Illustration: W. H. PATTERSON]
The strike ended, the Committee set themselves to work to repair the
broken places and put the Association on to a solid foundation again.
They found themselves financially insolvent and shattered numerically.
They were unable to meet the benefits provided by rule, and there was
a great cry of distress from those who were out of work owing to
depression of trade. A return was taken as to a levy to meet the
latter class, but it was very unsatisfactory, not one half of the
votes being cast, and the suggestions included levies varying from 2d.
up to 1s. They therefore decided to call a special Council, warning
the members that these people could not be paid from the General Fund.
They had been compelled to pay those who were on the funds short
allowance. The position was so desperate that "either the
contributions must be increased or the benefits reduced," and at the
Council the two questions were--first, the general question of
contributions and outlay; second, the men idle from depression: how to
raise money for their support and how much should they be paid? The
Council acting on the advice of the Committee decided that the
benefits for strike, lockout, and breakage should be 6s. and 3s. per
week for members and half members respectively, and that these
payments should only be paid for six months, when they should cease
without appeal, the sacrificed allowance being reduced to 10s. per
week without a reduction in time.
Their next difficulty was the unconstitutional district meetings which
were held. At these the wildest statements were made, and as a
consequence the minds of the members (as will always be the case when
these meetings are in vogue) became unsettled, and disunion followed.
Amid the natural difficulties of the situation the Committee were
called upon to defend themselves. A circular was sent out which, after
renewing the argument of the promoters of the meetings, said:
"If you determine to let those men go on, doing their endeavours to
undermine your Association, then be prepared to accept with that
choice all the evil consequences which must arise therefrom. These
are the men who would "_rather rule in_ hell than serve in heaven!"
They have yet to learn the most important of all attainments--viz.
how to rule themselves, before presuming to guide the thousands of
people in this county. If complaints are to be made, let them be made
regularly and right. If reformations are needed, let them be sought
in keeping with the constitution."
History is apt to repeat itself in this mode of procedure as in
others. Nothing but evil can result. We are not in Russia; we are a
democracy, and have a free tribunal.
There were other four questions calling for arrangement: the fixing of
the county average; the arranging for official recognition and the
operation of the Federation Board; the rearrangement of the sliding
scale; and the resumption of the Joint Committee. A dispute as to the
average for hewers arose in reference to the figures from which the
eight and three quarters per cent. and one and a quarter per cent.
should be taken. The employers contended they should be deducted from
the actual wage of the county for the three pays prior to the strike,
which was found to be 4s. 6¾d. The Committee contended they should
be deducted from the nominal minimum wage of 5s. 0½d. for the
eleven-hour pits and 4s. 8½d. for the ten-hour pits. These were the
wages from which the reductions were sought. If they were averaged as
per the number of pits at each it worked out at 4s. 11d. It was
therefore obvious that there would be a great difference in the
result. If the two reductions were taken from the 4s. 11d. the average
would be 4s. 5.16d.; if from the 4s. 6¾d. it would be 4s. 1.33d.,
or 3.83d. of a difference. It was finally agreed that the average for
hewers should be 4s. 5d. for the eleven and 4s. 2d. for the ten hour
pits.
The official recognition of the Federation Board was at first objected
to by the employers. At a meeting of the Board held on the 23rd of
September the details of the sliding scale were discussed. They were
in doubt as to whether the owners would discuss it with them, or the
miners alone. Eventually a joint meeting was held, and the second
sliding scale was arranged on October 11th. The date of its
commencement was fixed for December.
SLIDING SCALE, 1879
There shall be made the
following percentage additions
When the Net to, or deductions
Average Selling from, the now prevailing
Price of Coal tonnage rates and wages
Reaches But does not reach Additions Deductions
s. d. s. d.
4 2 4 6 None None
4 6 4 10 2½ per cent. "
4 10 5 2 5 " "
5 2 5 6 7½ " "
5 6 5 10 10 " "
5 10 6 2 15 " "
6 2 6 6 17½ " "
6 6 6 10 20 " "
And so on upwards, 2½ per cent. for each 4d.; the 5 per cent.
variation for the 4d. range in price between 5s. 10d. and 6s. 2d.
being limited to that special range.
s. d. s. d. Deductions.
3 10 4 2 2½ per cent.
3 6 3 10 "
And so on downwards.
* * * * *
The difference between this and the previous one consists in the
lessened grades. The 8d. grade was reduced to 4d. for two and a half
per cent. change in underground wages and two per cent. in surface
wages. Another variation was the giving up of the minimum wage. All
parties were agreed on this point, as all had felt the evil arising
from the operation of it during the two years of its existence. Long
may it be before such another condition arises here, for the days were
dark indeed; as witness the first ascertainment, which showed the
average selling price of coal to be 4s. 3.3d. per ton. The accountants
were, as now (1906), E. Spark, and Monkhouse, Goddard & Co.
The Joint Committee was suspended at the commencement of the strike on
April 5th, and did not resume its sittings until December 12th. During
the time intervening the rules were revised. A special Committee
(which might be called an interregnum Committee) met, and transacted
business of the same nature as that within the purview of the Joint
Committee.
Before leaving the strike and the consequences it may be of interest
to quote from Mr Crawford's first monthly circular his estimate of it.
The strike which took place in the months of April and May last will
ever remain an epoch in the history of the Association. A more
complete success never took place. At its beginning, strong doubts
were expressed and great fears entertained as to what would be the
ultimate consequences of such a step.