as they had time to examine it, and at the same time they would send
the employers a statement with regard to the application for an
advance.
Nothing more was heard of the subject until the 19th of December, when
the owners wrote to the Federation Board as follows:--
I am desired to ask you when the Owners' Association may expect the
reply to the proposal as to the reduction of wages made to your
Federation Board at the meeting on November 27th.
This was brought before the Board, when they suggested that the
questions should lie in abeyance until the New Year, after which they
would be prepared to arrange for an early meeting. On January 14th,
1892, the Board met the Owners' Wages Committee, when three
propositions were handed to them--(1) An immediate reduction of ten
per cent.; (2) to submit to open arbitration the question of what
change in wages ought to be made; (3) to submit any proposal the Board
might have to make to the Coal Owners' Association. Failing to receive
an intimation from the Board at the earliest date that they accepted
one of those propositions, then the Wage Committee must at once lay
the position of affairs before their Association, and obtain
instructions as to the steps to be taken to press for an immediate
reduction.
These questions were at once placed before the workmen by the Board.
They, in the first instance, said they did not consider they had the
power to make any settlement, and therefore were compelled to take
that course. Then they reminded their constituents that when the
markets were advancing (and on sufficient reason being shown) the
employers gave advances by mutual arrangement, and therefore that
mutuality should be reciprocated. They hoped the members would not be
rash nor doubtful, for these were dangerous and destructive to their
interests. "We must meet these situations like business men. The
greatest safeguard is confidence in each other, and, as in the past,
we have done all we could to merit that confidence from you, so in
this most critical period, if you entrust us with the care of this
matter, we shall do all we can to bring about the greatest benefit for
our various Associations."
There were three modes of settlement open to them: the first to grant
the immediate reduction of ten per cent.--this they would not
recommend; the second was arbitration; and the third to place the
matter in the hands of the Board to negotiate the best settlement
possible. They pointed to the last advance of five per cent., which
was got so speedily by acting in the latter manner. Upon these three
questions the ballot would be taken, the papers to be returned on or
before February 3rd. The voting was: for accepting the ten per cent.,
605; arbitration, 2050; Board to have power to settle, 7102; for
refusing the whole, 41,887.
The Board then put in operation Rule 14, which gives them power to
call the Committees of the four sections if they deem it necessary.
They arranged for such a meeting, and laid before it an amended offer
made by the employers: an immediate reduction of seven and a half per
cent., or five per cent. immediate, and five per cent. on the first of
May. If neither of these was accepted then notices would be given on
February 27th. With these offers the united Committees sent out a
circular. In it they supplemented the one sent out by the Board in
January, prior to the last voting being taken, and they warned the
county not to be deceived, because it was quite clear that the owners
were in earnest, and resolved not to be put off any longer. The
question had waited six months. If they accepted one of the
alternatives the dispute would be arranged. If they chose a strike,
then they must prepare for taking the consequences. On the 27th of
February, the day upon which the notices were given, they met and
decided:
"That all members of any of the four sections who have not received
notice from the owners must put them in at once, except the
collieries who are not associated with the Durham Coal Owners'
Association, who must work on, providing their wages are not
interfered with."
These instructions were altered three days after, and the members were
informed that "all workmen, whether employed at associated or
non-associated collieries, and who have not received notices, must
give them in at once."
The voting on the amended proposals of the employers was largely in
favour of a strike. For agreeing to the seven and a half per cent. 926
voted, for the two five per cents. 1153; for giving the Board full
power 12,956, and for strike 40,468. It was then resolved to submit
the two highest to another ballot. In the meantime the Board
endeavoured to induce the owners to modify their demand still further.
On the 10th of March, two days before the notices expired, numerous
telegrams passed between the two parties. Those from the Board were
urgent; those from the employers as if inspired by indifference, the
last one reading: "Owners regret position, but have no suggestion to
make."
The Board then turned their attention to the prevention of the filling
of the coals that were stacked, and they promised that, if any man or
men refused to fill at the pits in the county during the strike, they
would see them reinstated into their former work. In some places the
colliery officials interfered with the enginemen. The Committee of
that Association entered their protest, and brought the matter before
the Board, who decided:
That we endorse the action of the Enginemen's Association in the
prompt means taken by them in reference to officials of collieries
tampering with the enginemen, and should any action be taken against
the enginemen they will have the protection of this Board.
On March 11th the Miners' Executive decided to call a special Council
meeting of their members on the 12th to consider the situation, and
informed the Federation Board of their decision. After a long
discussion the Council decided against any reduction, and on the 16th
the votes of the whole Federation as per ballot showed:
Strike Federation to Settle
Miners 39,390 8,473
Enginemen 664 821
Mechanics 1,875 1,122
Cokemen 1,127 1,440
------- ------
43,056 11,856
In spite of all these efforts to prevent the strike and induce the
members to settle there were some who charged the leaders with not
giving the members full information and not daring to put the matter
as clearly and as forcibly as they should. In defence they asked the
lodge secretaries to look at the circulars and minutes which had been
sent to them, and they would find these people were speaking either
without full knowledge of the facts or maliciously stating that which
they knew was untrue. The Board had placed before the members the
various offers, and had in an unequivocal manner advised them that the
most beneficial mode of procedure was to give the Board power to
settle.
"To this we still adhere, as the wisest, surest, and best course to
be pursued, and we have no doubt that, were it adopted, a speedy
settlement might be arrived at, and all the misery and hardships that
are necessarily attached to a strike or lockout, whether it be long
or short, would be obviated."
The question of the sick members was somewhat perplexing, for the
members of the sick department who were not receiving anything beyond
the small amount of strike pay, found they could not keep their
payments up, and the question was brought before the Council, when the
following resolution was carried:--
This meeting deems it advisable to let the sick members who are now
on strike cease paying their contributions for the present, and at
the same time they be not allowed to come on to the Sick Fund. But
those who are now on the Sick Fund have their sick pay continued
until they recover from such illness, and at the same time they will
have to continue paying their contributions, but death benefits to be
paid to all.
The banking account as per the balance sheet for December 1891 was
£36,000. There was £15,834 in property in the various halls in the
county, and there had been so much money spent in local strikes that
it had been impossible to accumulate money to the extent they should
have done. The members were informed that the amount available would
only enable the Committee to pay 10s. to each full member and 5s. to
each half member, for they were compelled by rule to reserve £10,000
for the Sick Fund.
The strike being fairly started the Federation Board found themselves
in a position analogous to that of 1879. The best they did receive
(from a large number of people) was slander and vile names, and all
because they, realising the dangers of the situation, dared to advise
the county and take an unpalatable but manly stand. Meetings were held
everywhere, and the speeches delivered were interlarded with epithets
of the lowest order; and if the estimate of the agents was even only
approximately true they were fit for no place outside a prison, for
the most corrupt motives were attributed to them. They were betrayers
of their trust, and were selling the interest of the men for their own
gain. The main spreaders of those untruths were men from the outside:
sailors who loved to sail on land better than sea, and coal porters
from London, who thought they knew more about the miners' affairs
than the men of the county did. In addition, there were those who
believed in brotherhood, and thought the most effective means to
establish it was by sowing discord broadcast among a people engaged in
an industrial death struggle. The severity of the struggle may be
gathered from the fact that 10s. per member and 5s. per half member
was all that was available in the funds, and after being off nearly
eight weeks the money gathered in from helping friends amounted to 5s.
and 2s. 6d. respectively. It took £1000 to give each member of the
Federation 4d. each.
After being off work close upon eight weeks the Federation Board
sought a meeting with the owners for the purpose of talking "over the
situation with a view of putting before the members of the various
Associations any suggestions that might arise." Three days after the
parties met, when the whole question was fully discussed. The position
taken up by the Board was that, according to Joint Committee rules, no
question could be negotiated during a stoppage, and therefore the
owners should open the pits, after which the men would consider their
demands for a reduction. That offer was refused, and a reduction of
2s. in the £ was pressed. In connection with it they suggested the
formation of a Wage Board as a means of preventing the recurrence of a
suspension of work. They were then asked if they would refer the
question to arbitration. Their reply was very short and decisive: "No;
thirteen and a half per cent. reduction must be conceded before we
will agree to open the pits." When asked why they increased their
demand they said they had done so because the stoppage of the pits had
entailed a great loss upon them, and they thought the men should pay
for it. In addition, they chided the Board with simply being message
carriers instead of men of influence.
There were three results from the action of the owners. The first was
to bring the Federation Board and Committees into closer relations
with the people as a whole. There had been a tendency towards peace,
when the employers took the false step. They had an idea that the
workmen were beaten, and there is no doubt there would have been a
much earlier settlement but for that mistake. Before, the leaders were
doing their best to persuade their people to let them settle the
dispute, but afterwards they were in determined opposition to the
settlement on the lines of the increased demand.
The second result was to throw public sentiment against the owners. It
was very clear that, so long as the employers stood by their original
demand, there was at least a silent condemnation of the workmen for
refusing to place confidence in their leaders, but after the thirteen
and a half per cent. was asked for the public veered round to the side
of the workmen.
The third result was to change the feeling of the miners in relation
to their trust in the leaders. What persuasion could not do the
extreme demand did. At a Miners' Council held on May 7th it was
decided to leave the entire case in the hands of the Board. On the
9th, at a united meeting of the four Committees, the subject was
discussed for a considerable time, when it was decided that the Board
meet the owners, but the Committees to be in attendance. A telegram
was sent to Mr Guthrie informing him that:
"The Federation Board having received full power to settle the wages
question, can you fix a day as soon as possible for us to meet your
Wages Committee? Board waiting reply."
To this Mr Guthrie replied that he would call a meeting for the 11th,
and lay the message before their members. The meeting took place on
the 13th of May. The owners stood firm to their thirteen and a half
per cent. The united Committees offered to give five per cent. That
offer was refused. The Committees then proposed the following:--
WORKMEN'S OFFER
_May 13th, 1892._
That we, the united Committees, representing the four sections of the
workmen employed in the county, cannot accede to the demands of the
owners for a thirteen and a half per cent., but in order that we may
end this dispute, with the consequent stoppage of trade and
deprivation amongst the people, we are willing to accept an immediate
reduction of seven and a half per cent. from the thirty-five per
cent., leaving the wages twenty-seven and a half per cent. above the
1879 basis; and further, that we are willing at the earliest moment
after the starting of work to recommend to our members the formation
of a Wages Board for the settlement of all county wage questions in
the future.
W. H. PATTERSON.
OWNERS' REPLY
The Owners' Wages Committee regrets that it is impossible to accept
the offer of the united Committees for an immediate reduction of
seven and a half per cent. only. In other respects the Committees'
proposal is acceptable.
The Wages Committee must again point out that the ascertainment of
selling price for the month of February showed that the owners are
entitled--according to the relation of wages to prices that so long
prevailed, and which the owners still regard as fairly and fully
measuring the rates that can be afforded--to a reduction of fifteen
per cent. from the standards. In asking for thirteen and a half per
cent. only the owners feel that this is the smallest reduction that
they would be justified in accepting. They believe, having regard to
the deepening depression of trade, that any higher rate of wages than
would be thus established must lead to a serious diminution in the
amount of employment that could be afforded.
REGINALD GUTHRIE.
These were sent out with a statement of the case, with three questions
upon which the members were asked to vote: Should the owners' terms be
accepted? Should the strike continue? What suggestion had they to
offer? In the circular sent out four days after these questions the
Federation Board pointed out the seriousness of the position. It was
difficult to carry on the struggle much longer. Arbitration had been
offered to the employers, the pits commencing at the old rate. That
had been emphatically refused, although it might have been accepted,
if agreed to at the first. One suggestion had come to them--viz. to
offer to accept a reduction of ten per cent. This was sent out as from
themselves, and was carried by a majority of nearly four to one. When
forwarded to the owners it was refused. The following is the
resolution:--
_May 23rd, 1892._
RESOLUTION
That we, the united Committees, representing the four sections of the
workmen employed in the county, adhere to our refusal to accede to
the demand of the owners for a thirteen and a half per cent.
reduction, but in order that we may end this dispute, with the
consequent stoppage of trade and deprivation amongst the people, we
are willing to accept ten per cent. reduction from the thirty-five
per cent., leaving the wages twenty-five per cent. above the 1879
basis; and further, that we will at the earliest moment after the
starting of work recommend to our members the formation of a Wages
Board for the settlement of all county wage questions in the future.
Seeing the Owners' Committee have refused our offer of ten per cent.
reduction, and press for their full claim of thirteen and a half per
cent. in wages as a settlement of the present dispute, we offer to
submit the whole question to open arbitration, providing the pits be
opened out at once.
On the refusal of this offer it became clear to the workmen that they
were being most harshly dealt with, and as a natural consequence there
were a few outbursts of temper and disturbances. There were numbers of
policemen imported into the county. Against this the united Committees
protested, and pointed out that the massing of these men was likely to
cause disturbance, where otherwise there would be peace. They likewise
thought the rate-payers should demand the withdrawal of the policemen,
as they were an unnecessary burden upon the county. At the same time
they placed before the county a detailed account of the whole
proceedings from the initiation of it. They showed that they had done
all they could in the interests of peace. They had offered to submit
to a reduction, the justice of which had never been sufficiently
proved; in fact, they were willing to give two and a half more than
the owners asked for when they came out, which was equal to the
fullest demand before the stoppage. They concluded by saying:
The future of this awful struggle is with the owners. We have done
our part. We cannot and do not ask you to accept the unjust and
exorbitant demand made upon you. So far as we can see, the struggle
must continue, that is, unless you are prepared to submit to the
unjust demands of the owners. Are you prepared to do this?
We implore you to be patient under the strain placed upon you by the
latest action of the owners, from which it is evident that they would
crush you, and reduce your manhood to the level of serfdom. We urge
you to be law-abiding and still continue to show, as you have done in
the past, that the men of Durham are a credit, not only to Trade
Unionism, but to the country at large.
The owners are aware that our ability to successfully resist their
demands depends upon our being able to procure the necessaries of
life. It is a matter which they have no need to personally fear, but
which they appear determined to use as a weapon to force us to accept
their terms. We must all do our best to defeat their projects, and
nothing shall be left undone that we can do to secure subscriptions
in order that our people may have food. We are thankful to those
friends who have helped us, and we hope that workmen and all lovers
of justice will respond to our appeal.
As Committees, we tender our thanks to the leaders and friends at our
local lodges, who have so untiringly and unceasingly given their
labours for that purpose. They are in a good cause, and we are sure
they will not weary in their well-doing. Their action is made more
necessary by the determination of the owners.
The offer of the employers (thirteen and a half per cent.) was
submitted to the county along with the alternative of strike, with the
result that every section voted by large majorities for a continuance
of the strike, the least majority of any section being near four to
one, and in one section nine to one. The resources of the men were
gone, but their spirit of determination was strong. The owners by a
statement tried to put themselves right with the public, but the Board
replied by a counter statement. Then some of the influential men in
the county (including Bishop Westcott) thought it was time to
interfere, and letters were written by them to the Board, for which
thanks were sent in reply. Among the communications was one from N.
Wood, Esq., M.P., in which he expressed his regret at the failure to
settle and the great misery among the people, and suggested that the
Board should make an offer of eleven and a half. A letter of thanks
was sent to him, expressing surprise that he should make the
suggestion, and informing him that they would feel glad if he would
try to get the owners to see that they were preventing a settlement by
their stubborn refusal to shift from their demand for thirteen and a
half per cent. The good Bishop, however, was not satisfied, and
persisted in his endeavours to get the parties together. He was told
that as soon as the owners were willing the Board would meet, and an
arrangement was made on June 1st at Auckland Castle. A very long
joint meeting took place, and then each party met in a separate room,
the Bishop passing from room to room, full of solicitude for a
settlement. At nearly the final stage of the proceedings he tried his
best to persuade the workmen to offer eleven per cent., and he was
told that, while he had their most profound respect, and they were
sorry to refuse him, yet if they thought ten and a half would settle
the dispute they would refuse, and continue the strike. At that point
the parties met jointly again, when the following resolution was
handed to the workmen:--
OWNERS' OFFER
The Federation Board have offered explanations as to the
establishment of a system of conciliation in the future, which the
Bishop of Durham recommends the owners to accept as satisfactory, and
the Bishop having strongly appealed to the owners--not on the ground
of any judgment on his part of the reasonableness or otherwise of the
owners' claim of 13½ per cent., but solely on the ground of
consideration for the impoverished condition of the men and of the
general prevailing distress--to reopen the pits at a present
reduction of 10 per cent. (that is, from 35 to 25 above standard),
with the full expectation that wages will hereafter be amicably
settled by the system of conciliation contemplated, the owners yield
to the Bishop's appeal on these grounds, and assent thereto.
Bishop Auckland,
_June 1st, 1892._
It was thought desirable to settle certain details before work was
resumed. Amongst these was the restarting of all men as they came out.
Some of the owners demurred, and thereupon the meeting broke up, and
adjourned until Friday, the 3rd. The workmen at that meeting asked for
a plain statement that every man would be engaged at his own work. The
proposal of the owners was as follows:--
OWNERS' RESOLUTION
1. The Owners' Association have decided that no person shall be
refused employment in consequence of having taken part in the affairs
of the Workmen's Associations during the strike; they cannot,
however, give a pledge to re-employ all their workmen, but they will
recommend their members to employ as large a number as possible, and
that the re-engagement of hewers be as follows:--That the places in
each pit be cavilled for according to the last cavilling sheet, and
that men cavilled to the places not intended to commence again shall
be the ones not to be employed, it being understood that one hewer in
a family being cavilled to a place that is to work is equal to the
engagement of the whole family. In cases where a whole seam is
stopped, it having been previously cavilled separately, the men
belonging to such seam shall not be entitled to have a cavil put in
for any other seam. This mode of re-engagement shall not be adopted
as precedent in future cases, either in discharging or employing
workmen.
2. That the owners are not prepared to discharge or remove the
workmen whom they have employed during the strike for the purpose of
reinstating other workmen who were previously employed, but will use
their best endeavours to re-engage those previously employed as
vacancies occur.
REGINALD GUTHRIE,
_Secretary_.
Durham Coal Owners' Association,
_June 3rd, 1892._