LINTON MINE DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 23375, 6 December 1937, Page 4

LINTON MINE DISPUTE

No Settlement In Sight

POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF STRIKE

DECISION OF MINERS’

UNION

The possibility of the strike at the Linton coal mine extending to othei mines in the Nightcaps district if a settlement of the dispute is not effected within a week is suggested in a joint statement issued after a meeting of miners yesterday to The Southland Times by Messrs L. S. Edmond and A. V. Prendeville, president and secretary respectively, of the Nightcaps District Miners’ Union.

The statement is as follows: — At an exceptionally well-attended meeting of the Nightcaps District Miners’ Union; held yesterday, the president reported that the manager of the Linton Coal Company had asked permission for a number of men to combat the fire which had occurred in the mine. The president intimated that the secretary, the disputes man and himself had agreed to the men required, and the meeting adopted the following resolution unanimously:— “That this general meeting of the Nightcaps -District Miners’ Union endorses the action of the president, secretary and disputes member at the Linton mine in allowing the manager to select 19 union members to combat the fire which had broken out in No. 6 section, their action thereby demonstrating that the union had no desire to see property destroyed during the dispute.” After a long discussion on the dispute the meeting passed the following resolution:— “After hearing all the facts concerning the dispute at the Linton mine, this general meeting of the Nightcaps District Miners’ Union wholeheartedly endorses the action of union members employed at the Linton mine. In view of the fact that the union representatives acted in a constitutional manner by having the dispute settled under Clause 18, subclause (a) of the agreement, we further deplore the fact that the disputehaving been settled and the workman in dispute being allowed to resume work unconditionally, the company two days later at a directors’ meeting should instantly dismiss the man in question without hearing evidence on his behalf. The manager had admitted to a deputation that the reinstated worker had worked splendidly for the last three days after reinstatement, clearly showing that the worker had not committed any new breach and was being punished for the crime that the manager alleged he had previously committed. The attitude of the company in this instance clearly indicates its desire to smash the machinery clause referring to disputes not specifically provided for in the agreement, and if such a practice were allowed, no dispute could be termed as finally settled.” The meeting finally agreed to instruct the secretary to communicate with the national secretary of the United Mine Workers and place the full facts of the case in his hands and leave him to deal with any future developments. The meeting further agreed that in the event of no developments within a week, a further general meeting of the union will be held next Sunday to discuss the position, which may

involve the whole district in a stop-

page. No work was done at the mine on Saturday and as the result of yesterday’s decision, none will be done today or during the next few days.