CHEAT GOAL STRIKES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 3

CHEAT GOAL STRIKES.

A RECORD OF FIFTY YEARS

The following list, taken from The

TiiiicsNg'ves, the; dates of the principal disputes in the British coalfields during the last fifty'years; : the" diO t-rieta in which they occurred, the approximate number of men idle,uand the length of the dispute:— IgggLXSouth Yorkshire; 37,000, four months. 1861.—South Staffs, 20,000 four months. ".' Both these disputes were on the question of trades unionism. Widespread suffering and poverty were produced. jgn -2.—Throughout England and South'Wales there was a series ol long and bitter disputes for improved conditions and the recognition of trade unions. The new loaders—Mr Abraham, ALB. (“Mahon”) and others — began to come into prominence. 1873.—South Wales, 60,000, eleven weeks. Strikes for improved condition::;. Turbulent scenes. Lnions disorganised. 1875.—South Wales, 70,000, nineteen weeks. Renewed struggle by reorganised unions lor improved conditions, resulting in the. establish.ng of the sliding scale system. 1877.—West Lancashire, 30,000, 6 weeks. 1877, —Northumberland, 14,000, 8 weeks. 1878. -Durham. 70,000. six week... The last two disputes led to the adoption of the sliding scale system in Northumberland and Durham. 18S0-S!.—Lancashire, 50,000-60,000 seven wee ks. After tli esc disputes the sliding scale worked well for 1 a time, until the heavy fall m prices in the nineties led to tue breakdown ol the sliding scale system and determined opposition by the miners to a reduction in wages. 1801-2.—Durham, 75,000, eleven weeks. Against a reduction of 15 per cent in wages. Aggregate time lost, 1,500,000 days.

1803.1--South Wales, 90,000, three to four weeks. Against a reduction of -12 pt>r cent. Aggregate time lost, 1.500,000 days.

1893.—Federated districts, 300,000 13 weeks. The great Midland lock-out

over the proposed 25 per cent reduction hy owners. Owing to the intervention or Lord Rosebery the present Conciliation Board was formed. Aggregate tune lost, 21.J-h.OiJO ilacs. 18;) 1.--Scotland, 70,000, fifteen to sixteen weeks.

1808. - Souih Wales and Monmouth...hire, 100,000, twenty-fire weeks. Against' the sliding scale. This dispute led to the formation ol the South Wales Conciliation Board. 15)02.—1n the Federated districts there was a strike ol pit lain loi nigi ■ er wages. 15)06. In South Wales there was a campaign against non-union labour. The strike lusted a fortnight, and there were disturbances in which „a number of women leak part. 15)10-11.- -South Wales experienced a disastrous dispute in the Cambrian collieries over abnormal places. ibe strike lasted about ten months, ami then was rioting at Tonypandy and elsewhere. The dispute only ended when He Miners’ Federation entered on the movement which has led up to the present crisis.