1877
Deputies—Sliding Scale—Relief Fund—Emigration
The dispute about the deputies opened the year. A very lengthy correspondence took place on the subject between the Employers' and Miners' Associations. On January 23rd the whole of it was sent to the lodges. They were informed that the Committee had done all they could to avert a conflict on the question. In keeping with a resolution of Council, the owners had been offered arbitration, which they had refused. The resolution referred to contained the alternative of giving the whole of the notices providing arbitration was refused. Now, to carry out the instructions contained in that resolution the Committee forwarded the ballot tickets for the purpose of taking the vote in accordance with the rule. They concluded by saying: "Whatever the result may be arising out of this case the entire onus of blame must rest with the owners themselves." A resolution was placed on the programme for Council on February 3rd by the ex-Committee asking "that the deputies who are still with us be paid the 6 per cent. out of the General Fund of the Association," but it lost. In addition, the subject was laid before the Central Board of the Miners' National Union. They expressed regret and surprise at the action of the employers in paying one portion of the deputies more than the others, and were of the opinion "that there can only be one object in view in this policy, the disruption of the Miners' Union. The Board earnestly appeal to the mine owners to withdraw from the position they have taken up. Should they fail to do this the Board will feel called upon to ask the members of the National Union to yield all the support to the Durham Miners' Association they can under the circumstances." Nothing further was done in the matter during 1877 except an occasional Council resolution. We shall, however, meet the same question in a few years.
THE FIRST SLIDING SCALE
Early in the year the Association was entering seriously into a new phase of our industrial relation with the employers and taking another step in the path of amicability by the arrangement of the sliding scale. For some time there had been an inclination in that direction. By the Minutes of the Executive Committee members were informed that negotiations were proceeding with a view to establishing a scale, and at the Council meeting held on December 9th, 1876, the following resolution was on the programme:—"Seeing that coals are up, we ask for 25 per cent. advance." The decision was that the question rest over until the sliding scale question is settled.
On February 16th a letter was received from the employers containing the following resolution:—
"This Association having anxiously considered the further serious depression in the Durham coal trade and the necessity for endeavouring to avert in some prompt and thorough manner the complete collapse which has set in to the ruin of many owners, and the casting adrift of large bodies of men, feels compelled to ask the Miners' Association to concur in a further reduction in wages and readjustment of hours."
The Executive Committee met the owners on Thursday, February 22nd, when they were informed that the depressed trade and lower prices demanded a reduction of ten per cent. from underground and six per cent. from the bank workmen, "coupled with an increase in the working hours which would, in a great measure, compensate the men for the reduction in their wages." The Committee could neither see the necessity for a reduction nor could they see the compensation in the lengthening of hours. They, however, arranged another meeting for Friday, 9th March, when they would further discuss the sliding scale, and, failing that, the reduction. In the statement explaining these proceedings the Committee placed before the members two scales—one proposed by them and the other by the owners. It will be interesting and instructive to give these scales.
December 22nd, 1876.
SLIDING SCALE PROPOSED BY THE DURHAM COAL OWNERS
| Price | Per cent. | Wage |
|---|---|---|
| s. d. | s. d. | |
| 5 2 | 0 | 4 8.0 |
| 5 10 | 5 | 4 10.8 |
| 6 6 | 10 | 5 1.6 |
| 7 2 | 15 | 5 4.4 |
| 7 10 | 20 | 5 7.2 |
| 8 6 | 25 | 5 10.0 |
| 9 2 | 30 | 6 0.8 |
| 9 10 | 35 | 6 3.6 |
| 10 6 | 40 | 6 6.4 |
| 11 2 | 45 | 6 9.2 |
| 11 10 | 50 | 7 0.0 |
| 12 6 | 55 | 7 2.8 |
| 13 2 | 60 | 7 5.6 |
January 2nd, 1877.
SLIDING SCALE AS PROPOSED BY THE DURHAM MINERS' ASSOCIATION
| Price | Per cent. | Wage |
|---|---|---|
| s. d. | s. d. | |
| 5 6 | 0 | 5 0 |
| 6 2 | 5 | 5 3 |
| 6 10 | 10 | 5 6 |
| 7 6 | 15 | 5 9 |
| 8 2 | 20 | 6 0 |
| 8 10 | 25 | 6 3 |
| 9 6 | 30 | 6 6 |
| 10 2 | 35 | 6 9 |
| 10 10 | 40 | 7 0 |
| 11 6 | 45 | 7 3 |
| 12 2 | 50 | 7 6 |
| 12 10 | 55 | 7 9 |
| 13 6 | 60 | 8 0 |
In the explanation sent out it was shown that each scale would carry a minimum wage. Theirs would be five shillings, while the employers' would be 4s. 8d. The wages in the scale were for coal hewers only. The reduction the employers were asking for would bring the wages down twopence per man below the lowest wages offered in the owners' scale. They asked the members to leave the question entirely in their hands, as in their opinion a better settlement would be got than by any other way. A special Council was called for the 8th of March, and two subjects were sent out for discussion—(1) Should a sliding scale be adopted; if so, under what condition? (2) Should the owners be offered arbitration? The result was that the arranging of the scale was placed in the hands of the Committee, and on 14th March the first sliding scale was signed for two years.
THE FIRST SCALE
The following scale shall regulate the wages of hewers and labour below ground:—
SCALE
| Price | ||
| at and above | but below | Wage |
| 5 4 | 7½ per cent. reduction | |
| 5 4 | 5 8 | 5 " " |
| 5 8 | 6 4 | Present Rate |
| 6 4 | 7 0 | 5 per cent. advance |
| 7 0 | 7 8 | 10 " " |
| 7 8 | 8 4 | 15 " " |
| 8 4 | 9 0 | 20 " " |
| 9 0 | 9 8 | 25 " " |
| 9 8 | 10 4 | 30 " " |
| 10 4 | 11 0 | 35 " " |
| 11 0 | 11 8 | 40 " " |
| 11 8 | 12 4 | 45 " " |
| 12 4 | 13 0 | 50 " " |
| 13 0 | 13 8 | 55 " " |
| 13 8 | 60 " " | |
| And so on. | ||
It will be observed that the grades were eightpence, and for that amount the change in wages was four per cent. Next, there was to be a minimum wage of 4s. 8½d. per day. This is worthy of special notice in the light of subsequent events, especially during the time the minimum existed, which was until 1879, and especially in view of the desire of many people to have a minimum established again. Another point was the amount of reduction, which would depend upon an ascertainment by accountants. Messrs Monkhouse, Goddard & Miller acted for the owners, and Messrs Benson, Eland & Co. for the workmen. The ascertainment was made known on the 31st of March, the average net price realised being certified at 5s. 3.97d. The Committee accompanied the ascertainment with a short circular, and informed the members "that a reduction of 7½ per cent. on underground men and boys and 'banksmen' wages and 6 per cent. on 'bankmen's' wages will take place on the pays commencing April 2nd and April 9th."
THE FIRST RELIEF FUND
As a consequence of the depressed state of trade very large numbers of men were thrown out of work, and the rules of the Association made no provision for them. Opinion had been ripening for some months, and the Committee realising that the time was opportune, and acting on a Council resolution, suggested the formation of a Relief Fund. In furtherance of the object they sent out the following:—
SUGGESTIONS FOR RELIEF FUND
Fellow Workmen,—At last Council meeting, you put into the hands of the Committee, the work of suggesting some plan to relieve the numbers of men now idle at various collieries in the county. After mature consideration, they suggest the following as a means of forming a Relief Fund:—
1. To take from the General Fund the sum of five thousand pounds to form the nucleus of such Relief Fund.
2. That this Fund be afterwards kept up by the payment of a levy, or extra contribution, of 2d. per member per fortnight.
These two are the basis of their suggestions, details can be discussed and arranged afterwards. But to make these suggestions—and especially the second one—a success, the Committee believe that the county will require to have brought before them our exact position. The best, if not the only, means of doing this is to hold a series of public meetings at the various lodges and districts in the county, grouping lodges together where such can be done. What they now ask is, can they have your consent to assist the agents in attending such a series of public meetings? It is the only means of rendering successful the getting of necessary means and would not cost more than an ordinary Council meeting.
1. To take from the General Fund the sum of five thousand pounds to form the nucleus of such Relief Fund.
2. That this Fund be afterwards kept up by the payment of a levy, or extra contribution, of 2d. per member per fortnight.
In support of their proposals they adopted two modes of advocacy—first, to issue a circular, and second, to hold a series of meetings at all the lodges. This latter step they considered most essential, as they would thus be enabled to state the matter more clearly by speech and answer to the members. This view they placed before the lodges, and received sanction with very little objection; and, acting upon it, they arranged themselves into deputations of two each, and for about three weeks either addressed lodge meetings or groups of collieries where convenient, and as a consequence the Relief Fund was formed on the lines suggested. While it existed it proved itself a very useful institution for that period, which was the darkest through which the Association had to pass.
The amount paid, although small, was useful to the public as well as the members—to the latter by easing off the pinch of poverty, and to the former by the help to the rates, which would assuredly have been much more heavily weighted if the fund had not existed. It only existed a year, however, for the Committee placed a statement before the county on November 2nd which showed that, while there had only been £4144 contributed to the Relief Fund, the expenditure had been £9695, and that, adding the £5000 grant from the General Fund, the expenditure had exceeded by £551 the whole amount paid into it.
EMIGRATION AGENCY
During 1876 and up to July 1877 the agents had acted as emigration agents, and had been very useful in their advice to people who were inclined to emigrate by giving them advice upon points and matters of importance to them. All they did was done free of charge, and only with the view to help those who were members of the Association; but as in every movement there are men of the "viler sort," whose envy prompts them to attribute ill motives to those they envy, so in this case there were some who, instead of giving the agents credit for good motives, were not slow to charge them with selfishness and exploiting the volume of emigration for their own benefit. The agents bore this until the Council meeting held on July 21st, when Mr Crawford and his colleagues resolved to give it up. In doing so they gave their reasons in the following circular:—
EMIGRATION AGENCY
To the Members.
Gentlemen,—As announced at Council Meeting on Saturday last, we intend to give up the agency. It was taken with two objects—(1) To have ourselves well posted up in emigration news, so that we might be able to give the best advice possible; (2) to aid our members by allowing them the commission money, which is a very important item indeed. It was not taken with the view of making one penny of profit, but solely to assist our members by advice and also an abatement of their fares. But as some poltroon fellows, who are directly interested in getting emigrants in order that they may get the commission money, are causing some stir, and as, further, some of our lodges are listening to their statements, we think it necessary to give it up. You will be the only losers by it, but remember that it is amongst our own members that the real grumblers are found.