20,000 Miners Idle As British Strike Spreads

Northern Advocate, 3 September 1947, Page 5

20,000 Miners Idle As British Strike Spreads

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 2. TWENTY-FIVE Yorkshire collieries were either partially or wholly stopped this afternoon. _ . The stoppage is complete in eight collieries, and it is estimated that 20,000 men are striking—one-seventh of the mines’ labour force in the north-east region.

The strike spread for the first time to the Upton v colliery when threequarters of the men on tire afternoon shift returned home. Frickley again became idle, when none of the 603 afternoon-shift workers appeared. The situation at Wombwell also deteriorated with the afternoon shift. Darfield Main is idle and there are 200 absentees at South Kirbv. • Nearly 1500 miners at Cardowan colliery, near Glasgow, began an unofficial strike, believed to be over a wages dispute. Miners at Houghton Main, which employs 2700 men and produces 17,000 tons a week, decided to strike in sympathy with Grimethorpe. An official of the Clerical and Administrative Workers’ Union stated that all members of the mining section had been instructed to strike on September 6, following the decision of the TUC on the dispute between the

union and the National Union of Mineworkers over the clerical workers’ rights to negotiate with the National Coal Board.

Leaders of the Yorkshire miners will arrive at Southport today to discuss the strike situation with national officials attending the Trades Union Congress conference, says the Daily Telegraph industrial correspondent. A meeting of the executive of the National Union of Mineworkers will be called to discuss the strike. The outcome may be that a respected miners’ leader will be appoined to make a rapid but complete investigation of the men’s grievances.

The continued stoppage of 29 collieries constitutes a direct threat to the Sheffield steel industry, employing 50,000, says the Daily Telegraph. An official of the Iron and Steel Trades Federation said that within 12 days smelting shops might have to close, putting thousands on short time or out of work.