A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
The 1926 Strike
Note:
This narrative is not concerned with the politics of the 1926 strike,
of which there are many histories available elsewhere, but only as it
affected the Featherstone area. Some details of the dispute have to be
included to show why what happened happened.
MAY
Coal
production was at its lowest for many years and the output per man at
200 tons per year was considerably lower than the 310 tons in the
1880's. The industry was subsidised by the Government who wanted to end
the subsidy. The mine owners wanted to maintain their profits and said
wages
would have to be reduced and possibly the working day lengthened. The
Miners' Federation of Great Britain
rejected any change which led to the saying "Not a penny off the pay,
not a minute on the day".
The miners were backed by the Trades Union Congress which called a
general strike of industrial and transport workers, but after a
High Court ruling that no trade dispute could be between the TUC and the
Government it was called off after nine days but the miners carried on
with their strike.
The coal pickers were immediately busy on the stacks of the collieries
using every kind of hand vehicle to take away their bags. The pit ponies
were brought out and named to spectators by the pit lads who were pleased to be
allowed to accompany them to the fields. The Express commented the scenes were eloquent of the good feeling prevalent in Featherstone.
The Express also
commented on a report in a Derbyshire paper which reported on a serious
riot in Featherstone in which 10 persons were said to have been killed.
A prominent tradesman was interviewed by the Express who said Featherstone is probably the quietest place in Yorkshire.
The Featherstone Working Men's Club took the initiative in calling together representative of tradesmen, teachers, union officials and club officials to find ways and means of feeding the children. They were hoping for funds and gifts in kind from all sections of the community according to their means to provide breakfasts and dinners, thus avoiding the need to put into operation the Feeding of the Children Act which meant parents had to repay the cost of the meals when the strike was over.
The Featherstone Working Men's Club took the initiative in calling together representative of tradesmen, teachers, union officials and club officials to find ways and means of feeding the children. They were hoping for funds and gifts in kind from all sections of the community according to their means to provide breakfasts and dinners, thus avoiding the need to put into operation the Feeding of the Children Act which meant parents had to repay the cost of the meals when the strike was over.
Many miners with nothing to do were helping out with maintenance work
in the community. Some were doing joinery and painting in the North
Featherstone Lane United Methodist Church, others were making improvements to
the Rovers ground, and the local police agreed to play a cricket match
against a collieries team for the benefit of the feed the children fund.
The baths were closed on 22 May because there was no coal for the
boiler. Some coal was eventually found.
The Distress Fund began feeding the children at their respective
schools. The committee held a meeting in the Green Lane Club and
announced so far they had raised £100 and the tradespeople had offered
help in kind. Mr A Coult had been appointed secretary and Mr Moody of
Barclays Bank was treasurer.
JUNE
The education sub-committee said the parents were surprised when
after the 1921 strike they were told they had to repay the cost of
feeding the children in school, and this time they were reluctant to do
so again not wishing to be saddled with repayments. By now the Distress Fund
had received £192 but it was not enough to feed 3,400 schoolchildren
every day so it was limited to dinner Wednesday to Friday.
There was a long discussion by the Council on the giving of free milk to children. The clerk said the cost had gone up from £150 to £200 (the period of time was not stated). The Ministry of Health had said the grant would not be increased and the extra cost would have to be borne by the rates, and suggested the parents should apply to the Guardians.
The chairman, Cr Rodgers, said the parents would be very reluctant to go to the Guardians because the cost would have to be repaid. Cr Holiday said he agreed the children must have the milk but the council were the custodians of the ratepayers' money, and they should decide whether it was better to continue to give milk, which would have to be paid for out of the rates, or adopt the Ministry's suggestion and let the Board of Guardians deal with the cases. In the end, after the clerk had pointed out each applicant had to sign a form giving details of home circumstances, it was decided to continue to give the milk to deserving cases.
There was a long discussion by the Council on the giving of free milk to children. The clerk said the cost had gone up from £150 to £200 (the period of time was not stated). The Ministry of Health had said the grant would not be increased and the extra cost would have to be borne by the rates, and suggested the parents should apply to the Guardians.
The chairman, Cr Rodgers, said the parents would be very reluctant to go to the Guardians because the cost would have to be repaid. Cr Holiday said he agreed the children must have the milk but the council were the custodians of the ratepayers' money, and they should decide whether it was better to continue to give milk, which would have to be paid for out of the rates, or adopt the Ministry's suggestion and let the Board of Guardians deal with the cases. In the end, after the clerk had pointed out each applicant had to sign a form giving details of home circumstances, it was decided to continue to give the milk to deserving cases.
In the week ending 13 June a variety concert was held in the Miners'
Welfare Hall in aid of the Relief Fund and that was followed by the
Featherstone Rovers Supporters' Club who held a whist drive and dance
which raised over £20, and then Sharlston Mail Voice Choir gave a
concert. The Express of 18 June published a very long list of
donations of which the Rovers Supporters' Club was top with £22 10s. The total
raised to this time was £332 19s 2d.
Children's meals continued to be given, now on three days with fish and
potatoes on Wednesday, soup on Thursday and potted meat and bread on
Fridays.
The Guardian's relief tickets were given out at the Miners' Welfare Institute. For some reason Harold Tennant of Moor Road climbed in through a lavatory window and slipped banging his head on the tiled floor. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary suffering from concussion.
On 13 June the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, said in the House of Commons only a return to commonsense by the coalowners and the miners would solve the dispute. He preferred a sacrifice in the matter of working hours rather than the greater sacrifice of wages. In these circumstances he had come to the conclusion there should be a return to the longer working day. The Seven Hours Act would remain on the Statute Book, but legislation would be introduced to enable an extra hour to be worked for a temporary period.
The Guardian's relief tickets were given out at the Miners' Welfare Institute. For some reason Harold Tennant of Moor Road climbed in through a lavatory window and slipped banging his head on the tiled floor. He was taken to Pontefract Infirmary suffering from concussion.
On 13 June the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, said in the House of Commons only a return to commonsense by the coalowners and the miners would solve the dispute. He preferred a sacrifice in the matter of working hours rather than the greater sacrifice of wages. In these circumstances he had come to the conclusion there should be a return to the longer working day. The Seven Hours Act would remain on the Statute Book, but legislation would be introduced to enable an extra hour to be worked for a temporary period.
The owners had offered to retain existing wages in the most productive
mines for three months and and the remainder would have a wage reduction
of less than 10% based on an eight hour day. After September the wages
would be based on the ascertained profits of the industry.
Mr A J Cook, the secretary of the Miners' Federation, said instead of bringing forth the olive branch Mr Baldwin had unsheathed the sword. The miners would never voluntarily accept a reduction in wages. The Prime Minister hoped starvation would drive the men to accept longer hours. The Prime Minister had confirmed the opinion already held by the miners and their leaders he is nothing more or less in this dispute than the coalowners advocate.
Mr A J Cook, the secretary of the Miners' Federation, said instead of bringing forth the olive branch Mr Baldwin had unsheathed the sword. The miners would never voluntarily accept a reduction in wages. The Prime Minister hoped starvation would drive the men to accept longer hours. The Prime Minister had confirmed the opinion already held by the miners and their leaders he is nothing more or less in this dispute than the coalowners advocate.
The next day there were mass meetings in the Queen's Theatre and the
Theatre Royal in Castleford. Alfred Smith, for the union, said after the
display in the House of Commons they ought to be more determined then
ever to have this fight. With it being a seasonal industry it had meant
people only able to earn on three days had been driven to the Guardians
to keep body and soul together. They could under no consideration accept
a reduction in wages. He hoped they would keep up the splendid morale
of the past seven weeks. As to applying to the Guardians, it was better
to pay back at 2s 6d per week afterwards than to submit to 2s per day
reduction in wages.
Tom Smith, ex-MP for Pontefract, said they were having to fight the owners and the Government as well. After seven weeks of dispute there was the same determination on the part of the miners, and there was no room for compromise on either wages or hours. They were not asking for wages to be increased but to remain as they were, and they objected to longer hours on humanitarian grounds. They could trust Herbert Smith and Cook not to carry on the dispute for a single minute longer than necessary and not to compromise the position.
A resolution was passed "That this meeting endorses the resolution passed on Thursday, May 20th, by the Miners' Federation, and further reaffirms its determination to stand resolutely for no reduction of wages, no lengthening of hours, and retaining the national agreement".
Tom Smith, ex-MP for Pontefract, said they were having to fight the owners and the Government as well. After seven weeks of dispute there was the same determination on the part of the miners, and there was no room for compromise on either wages or hours. They were not asking for wages to be increased but to remain as they were, and they objected to longer hours on humanitarian grounds. They could trust Herbert Smith and Cook not to carry on the dispute for a single minute longer than necessary and not to compromise the position.
A resolution was passed "That this meeting endorses the resolution passed on Thursday, May 20th, by the Miners' Federation, and further reaffirms its determination to stand resolutely for no reduction of wages, no lengthening of hours, and retaining the national agreement".
The theft of coal was a constant problem for the colliery companies.
Four young men were in court for stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery
to sell it. One of them admitted to the police "That's right, me and
Curly fetched it (five full bags) out of wagons. I have got a customer
for it". The defendants, none of whom worked at the pit, were fined £2
each.
At the end of June the Distress Fund Committee organised a carnival in the cricket field in aid of the fund. The Express
commented "Not only those taking part, but the general public, appeared
to have packed all their troubles in their old kit bag. Smiling faces,
decorated houses and streets, hundreds of children in fancy and
descriptive costume, and a brave show of tableaux, all helped to make
the industrial strife forgotten, except of course the financial proceeds
were for feeding the children".
The procession started in North Featherstone and visited Purston before ending in the cricket field. It was headed by Featherstone Brass Band but there were comic bands from Featherstone, Pontefract and Eastmoor. The Express said it was easily the biggest and best Featherstone had seen. The financial results exceeded all expectations, the gross receipts being about £90.
The procession started in North Featherstone and visited Purston before ending in the cricket field. It was headed by Featherstone Brass Band but there were comic bands from Featherstone, Pontefract and Eastmoor. The Express said it was easily the biggest and best Featherstone had seen. The financial results exceeded all expectations, the gross receipts being about £90.
JULY
The
Distress Fund Committee continued to arrange concerts in aid of the
fund, and the British Legion arranged a cricket match against Pontefract
Barracks which raised £6. They cheated a bit by including
Featherstone's Yorkshire Council players who declared at 193 for 9 and
skittled the soldiers out for 38.
It was Pontefract Races in the first week so the principle day for
feeding was changed to Tuesday instead of Wednesday to avoid the
children coming into contact with heavy traffic. As well as dinners,
breakfasts were started at the schools which consisted of bread and
margarine, jam, buns and cocoa which were greatly enjoyed.
For the first time there was no union pay so the Distress Fund
Committee bought a ton of fish from Hull and sold it at various centres
at the very low price of 2d per pound. It sold out in quick time at only
a slight loss on the transaction. One miner thanked the committee
saying without the fish they would have been in a hole. The next time a
ton and a half was purchased and sold at the same price.
The Pontefract Board of Guardians had been loaning out assistance on
the scale of 15s for a wife, 5s for the first child, 4s each for the
next three and any other according to the circumstances. So far the
total paid was £30,000 for the whole area, equal to a 1s rate.
They had run out of money and needed to borrow more. The Government
refused to allow it unless they paid the national rate which was 12s for
a wife and 4s for each child. After much heated argument at their
meeting the chairman, Mr W Barber said the alternative to paying the
Ministry's scale was paying no scale at all, so they had to agree to
reduce their payments.
The Ministry said union strike pay could be ignored (why now said the
chairman when there was no strike pay) and youths up to 16 could be
counted as children and not as single men (who got nothing if on
strike). The meeting agreed to ignore strike pay up to 10s a week.
A miner and two pony drivers were in court charged with undermining the railway track in Ackton Hall sidings by picking coal. PC Lee said they were in a hole together with a pick and two shovels and the track was undermined. They had got about 2cwts of coal. Mr W Bentley for the company said daily permits were issued by the company to allow employees to get coal. Some of the conditions were the holders had to be married or in lodgings and the coal had to be got in a proper manner. All the defendants said they were merely gathering loose coal but they were fined £1 each.
The council's medical officer reported a large increase in free milk given away since the last meeting. It was suggested free milk should only be given to children under one year old and expectant mothers but the council decided to continue as before.
A miner and two pony drivers were in court charged with undermining the railway track in Ackton Hall sidings by picking coal. PC Lee said they were in a hole together with a pick and two shovels and the track was undermined. They had got about 2cwts of coal. Mr W Bentley for the company said daily permits were issued by the company to allow employees to get coal. Some of the conditions were the holders had to be married or in lodgings and the coal had to be got in a proper manner. All the defendants said they were merely gathering loose coal but they were fined £1 each.
The council's medical officer reported a large increase in free milk given away since the last meeting. It was suggested free milk should only be given to children under one year old and expectant mothers but the council decided to continue as before.
At the end of the month the Distress Fund Committee reported the total raised was now £1,209. The Express commented
as the distress in the homes - there is no union pay this week -
becomes more acute, the work of the distress committee is all the more
appreciated by the parents.
It was feared the coal stoppage would delay the erection of the Rovers
new stand but the club said it would be ready by the end of August.
Hundreds of colliery workers were spending their days sitting on the
grass watching the building work.
At the end of the month the Minister of Mines denied in the House of Commons the miners and their dependents were starving. He said their was no abnormal distress in the country and the miners' children were being fed.
At the end of the month the Minister of Mines denied in the House of Commons the miners and their dependents were starving. He said their was no abnormal distress in the country and the miners' children were being fed.
AUGUST
The Industrial Christian
Fellowship put forward some proposals to end the strike including a
resumption of the Government subsidy for four months, schemes of
reorganisation to cut costs, and if at the end of four months the
outcome was not satisfactory then arbitration to settle the
differences.
Stanley Baldwin and the mine owners rejected them but the miners' union
decided to have a vote which was also against. Many votes were by a
show of hands at mass meetings which caused a lot of criticism. The Express commented about the voting
"The decision of the miners was perfectly legitimate, and the method of
taking it legitimate. It is the method adopted in nine votes out of
ten, anywhere; and the criticism is ill-natured. The result is contrary
to the recommendation of the leaders, but that is their concern".
Eight young pony drivers were summonsed for damaging a railway track at Ackton Hall Colliery. Mr Will Bentley, for the company, said a temporary line had been laid and the defendants had removed part of it. The company did not wish to be hard on them but they ought to have known better. If this sort of horse-play was not checked it might develop into something more serious. The chairman said it was a serious matter and the boys had acted contrary to the wishes of their leaders (the union). The three eldest regarded as ringleaders were fined 15s each and the others bound over for 12 months.
Eight young pony drivers were summonsed for damaging a railway track at Ackton Hall Colliery. Mr Will Bentley, for the company, said a temporary line had been laid and the defendants had removed part of it. The company did not wish to be hard on them but they ought to have known better. If this sort of horse-play was not checked it might develop into something more serious. The chairman said it was a serious matter and the boys had acted contrary to the wishes of their leaders (the union). The three eldest regarded as ringleaders were fined 15s each and the others bound over for 12 months.
Cr A Coult, secretary of the Distress Fund, appealed for gifts of boots and clothing for children and adults.
He said many miners and their children were in need and could not
possibly buy them. When in London for a union meeting he told the
officials of the need and a big parcel of boots and clothing was sent to
Featherstone.
Mr J Coule, the events organiser for the fund, arranged two boxing tournaments in the Welfare Hall which raised £60. They were now feeding the children four days a week at a cost of £100 a week. The total raised to the week ending 24 August was £1,611, but they only had enough in hand for two weeks.
For the Rovers first game of the new season 2,000 would be spectators turned up without the one shilling admission fee. The crush became so great that eventually the Batley officials agreed they could be let in free. (The visiting team took 10% of the gate receipts).
Mr J Coule, the events organiser for the fund, arranged two boxing tournaments in the Welfare Hall which raised £60. They were now feeding the children four days a week at a cost of £100 a week. The total raised to the week ending 24 August was £1,611, but they only had enough in hand for two weeks.
For the Rovers first game of the new season 2,000 would be spectators turned up without the one shilling admission fee. The crush became so great that eventually the Batley officials agreed they could be let in free. (The visiting team took 10% of the gate receipts).
SEPTEMBER
In court Mr Will Bentley, prosecuting for Ackton Hall Colliery, said
not withstanding frequent prosecutions since the coal dispute started it
was still necessary to bring cases to court. Two young miners were
charged with stealing a wooden railway sleeper value one shilling.
Charles Pashley, caretaker at the colliery, said nearly 100
sleepers had been stolen. They were fined £2 each. Another man was
caught by PC Lee filling a sack at 5.45am from a stack of small nuts. He
had caught him twice before but the colliery did not summons him
because his mother was a widow. The defendant said "Well, we have to get
coal from somewhere". He was fined £3.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association made a payment of 3s to full members at Ackton Hall, Featherstone Main and Snydale Collieries and 1s 6d to half members (pit lads).
The gas company announced an increase in price of 3d per 1,000 cubic feet. This was because no local coal was available and foreign coal cost more.
The Distress Committee said there was not enough money coming in to allow the children to be provided with a meal four days a week so it would have to revert to three days. This would cost £80 a week and the balance was almost exhausted. Special efforts including boxing tournaments and concerts were still being held to raise funds.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association made a payment of 3s to full members at Ackton Hall, Featherstone Main and Snydale Collieries and 1s 6d to half members (pit lads).
The gas company announced an increase in price of 3d per 1,000 cubic feet. This was because no local coal was available and foreign coal cost more.
The Distress Committee said there was not enough money coming in to allow the children to be provided with a meal four days a week so it would have to revert to three days. This would cost £80 a week and the balance was almost exhausted. Special efforts including boxing tournaments and concerts were still being held to raise funds.
The council finances were in difficulties because of the non-payment of
rent and rates, so an application was made to the Ministry of Health
for permission to get an overdraft of £3,000 until the arrears were
paid. The medical officer was authorised to continue the grants of free
milk for a period of one week after the conclusion of the coal stoppage
at his discretion.
From the start of the strike Ackton Hall Colliery had allowed access to
the muckstacks for coal picking but because of damage by undermining
railway tracks a notice was posted forbidding any more coal picking
until the pickers made good the damage, when further permits would be
granted. The pickers quickly set to and repaired the damage. The
colliery then gave out permits again but warned parents to keep children
away from the stacks.
The Government put forward a compromise of 30 minutes on the working
day instead of one hour and a 6.1% reduction in wages instead of 12.2%.
The miners at Ackton Hall, Featherstone Main and Snydale Collieries held
meetings and rejected it. Some miners in South Yorkshire had had enough
and resumed work.
Featherstone Rovers had a fixture with the New Zealand All Blacks rugby
league team. Although the Rovers committee had reduced the admission
price for out of work miners from 1s to 6d they considered it would be a
financial disaster because the visiting team took 70% of the gate
receipts and the Rovers had to meet all expenses. After considering a
swop with Bramley for a later date it was decided to cancel it.
At the council meeting it was announced in spite of the financial difficulties the rates would stay at 2s 6d in the £1. During the stoppage the council had spent £800 on free milk, the council's tenants were owing over £2,000 in rent and rates, and the collieries (rated on their tonnage) had paid £9,000 less.
The Guardians had had to increase the Poor Rates to help to pay the benefits they were giving. This meant the council had to put up the council house rents by 10d or 1s a week so they could pay the Guardians. Cr Holiday said the money paid by the Guardians to the strikers was only a loan and he hoped the Poor Rates could be reduced when this money was repaid.
At the council meeting it was announced in spite of the financial difficulties the rates would stay at 2s 6d in the £1. During the stoppage the council had spent £800 on free milk, the council's tenants were owing over £2,000 in rent and rates, and the collieries (rated on their tonnage) had paid £9,000 less.
The Guardians had had to increase the Poor Rates to help to pay the benefits they were giving. This meant the council had to put up the council house rents by 10d or 1s a week so they could pay the Guardians. Cr Holiday said the money paid by the Guardians to the strikers was only a loan and he hoped the Poor Rates could be reduced when this money was repaid.
Cr Coult was secretary of the local branch of the Workers' Union and
thanks to his efforts hundreds of families had received boots and
clothing sent from many parts of the country to the union. He said there
was still a long waiting list for these items.
Colonel Lane Fox, the Minister of Mines, said he really thought we were
at the end of the coal dispute. The miners' leaders were making a
desperate attempt to carry on a little longer. He was sorry for the
miners. They had been misled by the leaders who had declined what would
have been a satisfactory settlement. The result was the men were
absolutely beaten.
The Pontefract Board of Guardians, which was handing out relief for miners' families, held a very long meeting about the dispute. The clerk said they had received permission to borrow another £25,000 which would bring the total up to £160,000.
Mr Mollett said the longer we continue this relief the longer the strike is going to last. I have had it put to me by miners they are in a hopeless condition and have nothing to gain by going back to work, because they are so overwhelmed with debt they will have to work a long time to repay the debts before they will have anything in hand. The best thing to do is to cut down the relief by half (to force them back to work). The clerk confirmed they were still paying the recommended rate of 12s for a wife and 4s for a child.
The Pontefract Board of Guardians, which was handing out relief for miners' families, held a very long meeting about the dispute. The clerk said they had received permission to borrow another £25,000 which would bring the total up to £160,000.
Mr Mollett said the longer we continue this relief the longer the strike is going to last. I have had it put to me by miners they are in a hopeless condition and have nothing to gain by going back to work, because they are so overwhelmed with debt they will have to work a long time to repay the debts before they will have anything in hand. The best thing to do is to cut down the relief by half (to force them back to work). The clerk confirmed they were still paying the recommended rate of 12s for a wife and 4s for a child.
Mr Edwards pointed out the relief was given for wives and children and
not the miners. Some children had not enough to eat while the condition
of their boots and clothing was scarcely to be mentioned.
Mrs Nash said there was a great deal of sickness among the children. The men might be right or wrong but it was hard for the children to suffer. Revd Egerton was of the opinion the relief was helping to keep the men on strike. He was in favour of a reduction, and if work was available and refused the relief should stop.
Mr Amery pointed out if the special relief to the miners (which had to be paid back) was stopped it would cause destitution and the wives would apply for ordinary relief which did not have to be paid back.
After a great deal of similar comments for both sides of the argument it was decided to reconsider the whole question in two weeks. The clerk said he assumed if the trouble was over in the meantime a special meeting would not be necessary. Father Fove said it will be a pleasure to be disappointed.
The owners announced Ackton Hall and Featherstone Main Collieries would be open on 27 October for men to sign on, and under the terms quoted they would be able to earn wages not less than those earned in April. The union at both collieries held branch meetings and turned the offer down. The owners said the union had misrepresented the offer and on the first day only a few men signed on.
Mrs Nash said there was a great deal of sickness among the children. The men might be right or wrong but it was hard for the children to suffer. Revd Egerton was of the opinion the relief was helping to keep the men on strike. He was in favour of a reduction, and if work was available and refused the relief should stop.
Mr Amery pointed out if the special relief to the miners (which had to be paid back) was stopped it would cause destitution and the wives would apply for ordinary relief which did not have to be paid back.
After a great deal of similar comments for both sides of the argument it was decided to reconsider the whole question in two weeks. The clerk said he assumed if the trouble was over in the meantime a special meeting would not be necessary. Father Fove said it will be a pleasure to be disappointed.
The owners announced Ackton Hall and Featherstone Main Collieries would be open on 27 October for men to sign on, and under the terms quoted they would be able to earn wages not less than those earned in April. The union at both collieries held branch meetings and turned the offer down. The owners said the union had misrepresented the offer and on the first day only a few men signed on.
NOVEMBER
At their special meeting the Guardians were of the opinion the strike
was ending and decided to continue the same benefit rate for another two
weeks. Some members expressed concern at the difficulty of getting the
miners to pay the money back but were told there was an agreement for
payments to be taken from wages.
Concerts
and boxing tournaments were still being held in the Miners' Welfare
Hall for the Distress Fund but some had to be postponed because of
difficulty in getting coal for the central heating boiler. There was
still enough money in the fund for three meals a week for the children.
The smallest bits of coal, like grains of sand, which were washed out in the washery at Ackton Hall Colliery were pumped down Green Lane to settling ponds. The result was a black paste-like fuel called silt (locally known as dubbin or tailings). The company said it was being taken by miners and then sold so they would not issue any more permits to collect it.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association decided they could not win and at a meeting on 15 November, attended by the three local delegates, they recommended a return to work. Branch meetings were held the next day at all three local collieries where it was agreed to accept the Government's proposals and end the strike.
The Guardians said repayment of loans would not start until the miners had been back at work for three months. For those who agreed a deduction from their wages the company would get 2½%. For those who did not agree, or who fell behind with their payments, proceeding would be taken to recover the amount due.
The smallest bits of coal, like grains of sand, which were washed out in the washery at Ackton Hall Colliery were pumped down Green Lane to settling ponds. The result was a black paste-like fuel called silt (locally known as dubbin or tailings). The company said it was being taken by miners and then sold so they would not issue any more permits to collect it.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association decided they could not win and at a meeting on 15 November, attended by the three local delegates, they recommended a return to work. Branch meetings were held the next day at all three local collieries where it was agreed to accept the Government's proposals and end the strike.
The Guardians said repayment of loans would not start until the miners had been back at work for three months. For those who agreed a deduction from their wages the company would get 2½%. For those who did not agree, or who fell behind with their payments, proceeding would be taken to recover the amount due.
The Yorkshire Miners' Association met the coal owners on the 27th to sign the agreement for a 7½ hour day. The pay scale was the 1911 rate plus 46% and the union agreed to a gradual reduction to 32%.
DECEMBER
The Express for 3 December reported "Featherstone was a happier place
than at any time during the past seven months. The different expressions
of the men showed the relief with which the coal settlement has been
received. Featherstone Main and Ackton Hall Collieries were the scene of
much activity. Men were tumbling over each other in the haste to sign
on, and there was intense disappointment for those who found they would
not be wanted for a day or two".
The management of both collieries said men would be signed on as soon as their work was available, and the questions of home coal, rent arrears and advance of money in lieu of wages would be sympathetically considered. It was said there was good feeling between the men and officials, and in a few days time the great majority of workers at both collieries would be back at work.
The Distress Committee said they would continue feeding the children until 11 December as they considered an end to the operation too soon would inflict great hardship on them. They then said they would have to finish a week earlier because of the fall off in subscriptions and they didn't want to run the risk of ending up in debt. The total subscribed was £2,427 plus about £1,000 in gifts and kind. Any balance after auditing would be spent on boots for the most needy of children.
The management of both collieries said men would be signed on as soon as their work was available, and the questions of home coal, rent arrears and advance of money in lieu of wages would be sympathetically considered. It was said there was good feeling between the men and officials, and in a few days time the great majority of workers at both collieries would be back at work.
The Distress Committee said they would continue feeding the children until 11 December as they considered an end to the operation too soon would inflict great hardship on them. They then said they would have to finish a week earlier because of the fall off in subscriptions and they didn't want to run the risk of ending up in debt. The total subscribed was £2,427 plus about £1,000 in gifts and kind. Any balance after auditing would be spent on boots for the most needy of children.
A payout was made by the local union branches of 6s to
men and 3s to boys, who had signed on but not yet been found work. The
branch at Featherstone Main Colliery put up a notice regarding the
re-commencement of the paying of union subscriptions saying no
contributions can be taken from those who broke away, presumably those
who signed on at the pit in October, and considered to be
strike-breakers.