COAL STRIKE CALLED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22082, 3 May 1937, Page 9

COAL STRIKE CALLED

BRITISH MINERS ACTION ON FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS DECISION TO STOP WORK ON MAY 22 (united press ASSOCIATION—COPT eight.) (Received May 2, 9.51 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. Special delegates, at a conference of the Mineworkers’ Federation, decided to call, a national coal strike on May 22, following the failure of - negotiations with the mine ownersOn April 20, by a vote taken throughout British coalfields, the miners empowered their federation to resort to national strike action in the. event of negotiations failing. The questions involved were alleged victimisation at the Harworth colliery, and the dispute over union recognition in the Nottinghamshire coalfield. The Nottinghamshire dispute arose originally from the presence in the _ coalfield of two rival unions, one of which was autonomous, and the other affiliated to the Mineworkers’ Federation. After a strike at Harworth last November the employers' sought to make membership of the independent union a condition of re-employ-ment; and though this condition was withdrawn the question of victimisation remained in dispute. Later the two unions amalgamated; but a ballot was taken to decide whether strike action should be resorted to. if necessary, to enforce^ the miners’ claims. ■ The miners felt that their right of organisation bad been challenged.