STOCKTON MINE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 132, 2 December 1930, Page 18

STOCKTON MINE

SHIFT DISPUTE

WORK UNDER PROTEST

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) GBEYMOUTH, Ist December. The secretary of the United Mine Workers (Mr. A. M'Lagun) to-night made the following statement regarding, the Stoekton. mine dispute:— ' "A■general meeting of the Stockton Miners' Union 'yesterday condemned the action of Mr.'; C. D. Bctts, the independent chairman in the new shift dispute, in.not giving a straight-out decision in accordance with the terms of his appointment, and the union repudiated Mr. Bc.tts's so-called recommendation, which lie had no authority to make, and which carried not the slightest weight. At the same time, the union recognised the company's determination to enforce the new shift, which is contrary to the provisions of the agreement, ami.rather than expose the members to the effects of a longcontinued lock-out, they decided by a small majority to work the new shift under protest. "The union calls attention to the company's breach of the agreement drawn up last June,,and to the arbitrary action of the management in locking the'men out because they refused to abandon their agreement, such action being regarded as au ironical commentary on .the coal owners' alleged respect for the sanctity of agreements."