Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 March 1913

Breach of the Employers and Workmen Act.

George Bodkin, filler, of Mexboro’, was summoned by the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company for a breach of the Employers and Workmen Act.

There was a fall in the defendant’s working place, and he was told to work in another. He refused to do so.

Prosecuting, Mr. Allen said it was highly essential in colliery undertaking that men should work on every occasion when the pit was open for work. Their refusal to work was a very serious matter. The bye-laws provided that every man should work in the pit, and when the stall was down the deputy ordered them to work in another place. The men were paid the minimum wage. The amount claimed was 16s.

Pleading guilty, the defendant said he had not received the minimum wage once he had been down the pit. He had been in the pit over two years.

“They give you the sack when you go in for it,” he added.

Mr. Allen: Oh no they don’t.

Defendant was fined £1, including costs.

Michael Quinn, filler, of Mexboro’, pleaded guilty to a similar offence.

His stall was “off,” and the deputy, Gregson, told him to go into another district, and actually followed him with the idea of getting him a good place. The claim was for £1.

Defendant could easily have filled ten tubs.

The defendant stated that he thought he was standing up for his rights, and that he was only engaged for that particular pit.

Mr. Watson Smith, on oath, said men were signed on for any part of the mine, and were liable to be shifted about. They were short of men, and unless they worked each stall they were suffering a great disadvantage. If the defendant had worked the full shift he could have got ten tons of coal, and the loss to the management was 2s. per ton. The claim for £1 was reasonable.

Mr. Gregson, deputy, said that on the day in question the defendant’s stall was “off” in the Parkgate seam, and he told him to go into the Montagu district and work in a stall. Witness followed him and got him work. He refused to work in the place.

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