Coal Strikes Blackmail,, Miners Leader Says

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1947, Page 5

Coal Strikes Blackmail,, Miners Leader Says

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 29. THE president of the National Union of Mineworkers (Mr Will Lawther) has described the coal miners’ strikes in South Yorkshire as blackmail.

“I cannot understand the attitude of the strikers, who, it is alleged, have drawn their extra rations as miners and refused to be miners,” he said.

“For men to say they knew nothing about the clause in the five-day week agreement in which they were asked to increase stint is sheer nonsense.

“As far as we are concerned they have to honour the agreement.”

Mr Lawther added that there was no immediate prospect of himself or the secretary (Mr Arthur Horner) going to Yorkshire to intervene in the dispute. He would not rule out the possibility of fresh intervention ( if the situation warranted it, and they were asked to go.

of coal, had by their act ended their contract of service.

They could have their positions back, it was stated, if they accepted the decision to increase by 2ft the area of coal face to be worked by each shift.

This was the decision against which the men struck.

They never went to a district unless they were invited.

A gallows with the words “Burn Will Lawther” was crudely drawn in white paint on the wall at the entrance of Grimethorpe Colliery. This is the first outward sign of bitterness growing among the men, says Reuters.

MONDAY CRITICAL

Miners’ leaders in Yorkshire and M.P.s are joining Mr Shinwell in an all-out effort on Sunday to end the coal strike. Mr Shinwell addresses Fricldey and South Girkby miners. Mr Horner addresses Grimethorpe miners. All meetings will be private. The decision to hold the meetings was made by the Miners’ Consultative Committee at Doncaster.

It is thought to be the work of young hotheads among the Grimethorpe strikers. The old miners are annoyed. One said: “It is not necessary. We want no trouble here.” 100,000 TONS LOST

Colliery officials said Monday morning would be critical. So far the need to complete a fiveday week and qualify for a bonus has steadied the men.

The situation in the South Yorkshire coal strike became worse in some districts and improved in others today. It is reported that men at the Wombwell and Darfield pits are idle. More men struck at Thorne Bentley and South Kirkby. There is only 60 per cent attendance at Highgate Colliery. Five of the eight pits in the Mexborough area are working normally, and normal working has been resumed in the Dearnde Valley Pit. The Minister of Fuel and Powel (Mr Shinwell) will visit the coal-strike areas on Sunday and address the miners on the general situation. The Coal. Board, in a summary of the strike position, says 16.701 men were out at 5 p.m. from 14 collieries. The total loss of coal has been 100,104 tons, mainly from Grimethorpe, where the strike began, and where 2300 men are out at a cost to date of 57,450 tons. Because orders for coal had not been delivered, owing to the strike of Yorkshire miners, Bradford woollen mills had to use winter coal reserves to keep mills working. CAUSE OF STRIKE The National Coal Board decided that the Grimethorpe miners, totalling 2682. who struck on August 11 with a resultant loss of more than 40,000 tons

Many miners fear the strike will extend next week unless tension is relieved at the week-end.

Mr W. E. Jones, secretary of the Yorkshire area of the National Union of Mineworkers, said several pits agreed on reassessment tasks.

. The Daily Telegraph says more than 20,000 miners are now idle, a further 5000 having joined the stoppage today.

Ten pits of the 15 affected are at a complete standstill. The dispute has cost the country 120,000 tons of coal.

The Telegraph asked Mr Shinwell whether he agreed with Mr Lawther that the strikers should be prosecuted. Mr Shinwell replied that prosecution should be resorted to only if other methods of persuasion failed.