Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 March 1903
The Denaby and Cadeby Strike
Over at Last!
39 Weeks’ Struggle from Start to Finish
“Men! Go Back to Work.”
Resolution Passed at Sunday’s Meeting
Settlement Hailed with Delight
Sunday was a typical Spring day, the warm, glowing sun, the twitter of happy birds in the budding hedgerows, all the general brightness marking the Sabbath being highly suggestive of hope and of better days in store for the district, particularly when it became known that the ex-miners of Denaby and Cadeby, out on strike, had that morning passed a resolution to throw up the struggle, and apply for reinstatement to their old positions in the pits, vacated for exactly nine months—39 weeks—to the very day. It was a Summer Sabbath-day idea that when the decision came to a strike, but it was even brighter on Sunday when they decided to go back to work again, for the gloomy cloud of trade depression was to lift from the moment the latter decision was pronounced, and the people in the neighbourhood felt glad with an exceeding gladness when they became acquainted with the good news that spread with great rapidity through the locality. Worshippers coming home from church or chapel were not allowed to proceed far before the welcome music of “the strike is over” fell on their ears, giving cause for thankfulness and hearty congratulations on every hand.
The recent trend of events had led people to expect the long-delayed settlement a few days previous, but even then, it was meeting of the men on the Thursday passed the old resolution to “play on.” Disappointment was so intense that many began to think the struggle was to be indefinite. Hence, Sunday’s decision of the men was doubly welcomed, and was generally approved, for it had been long apparent that further resistance was useless, and that the advent of new hands at the pits was daily leaving fewer places open for the strikers.
The Last Mass Meeting
The bellman had called the men to meet in the cricket field near the Mason’s Arms, Doncaster road, Mexboro’, at 11 o’clock in the morning, but it was some minutes before Mr. F. Croft (chairman of the Strike Committee) addressed a congregation composed almost entirely of men, though a few women present taking an equally serious interest in the proceedings.
The Chairman, who was supported by other members of the committee, had an important statement to make, for he had come to tell the men that the fight was over, that it was useless to continue, and, for the sake of wives and children, the best and only course left open to them was to make application to the Colliery Company to be put on to work again as soon as possible.
He said 39 weeks was long enough, and the pits were not now owing to several grievances which had existed prior to the Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries. His desire was that morning was to give a true statement of the conference had recommended on Saturday as following: That conference recommended that all men resume work in a body as early as possible.
Voice: “We don’t want to have to go back to work; we are going to play on.”
He advised the meeting to take no notice of that man; for he was there to give a true statement of the situation. The conference had every sympathy with them all, and would support those men whom the colliery company would not allow to sign on. All of them were well aware that the financial support was being stopped, and this was due to the presentation of Mr. Parry in every county. The only course left open for the men was to go back to work, and be honest they could do so.
Mr. A. Dickinson, one of the delegates, bore out the statement of the chairman, and advised the men to return to work, as did Mr. G. H. Hirst.
“To Be, or Not to Be”
The resolution that “the men resume work on Monday, as early as possible,” was then put to the meeting, and a big majority being in favour, it was declared carried. And with this the colliery strike ended.
Cost of the Struggle and Interesting Facts
What the strike has really cost can never be measured by cold statistics and certain it is that losses experienced in many instances did more to make the hardships numerous than have probably been endured, although no specific sum is known as the actual cost of the members.
It cannot be denied that hundreds of families have found a great difficulty in existing on alms alone, which was totally inadequate to meet the many calls upon such small resources.
It is estimated that the wages bill for the 39 weeks had the men been working at Denaby and Cadeby would have amounted to £250,000, whilst the quantity of coal that would have been drawn but for the strike is put down at 900,000 tons. Against the loss of over a quarter of a million pounds in wages, the men have received in strike pay about £2000 per week, or £60,000 during the continuance of the strike.
By the above figures it is obvious that the effect of the strike will be felt by the district for some considerable time, for, as a contemporary puts it, a large mining district has been impoverished.
Indeed the men employed, tradesmen are struggling, some of them hardly able to hold their heads above water, and the miners are in sore case. Those who had any money at the commencement of the struggle have little or nothing left now, and those by far the greater number who had no resources to carry them over such a period, have had to live a life of privation.
In many cases furniture and other belongings had to be disposed of to help them along, and the pawnbrokers’ stores are very full. Other classes of tradesmen have suffered severely, and it will be a year or two before they recover at all. The shopkeepers have been very badly hit, and in some cases takings have fallen by as much as two-thirds.
The Present Situation
Although the strike has terminated, it does not mean that all difficulties have been swept away in a moment. Far from it, for it is obvious that many of the old hands, through delay in applying, have lost all chance of getting back to the pits again.
Following on the resolution of Sunday, hundreds of strikers have this week applied at the colliery offices for work, but very few have been signed on. The pits require repair after long idleness, and it will take time before full employment can resume.
There are now about 1000 men at work out of a possible 4000, and many of the old hands will have to seek work elsewhere. Meanwhile, those not taken back are to receive some financial assistance, though with subscriptions ending, hardship will likely increase in the short term.
The Encampment
The attention of the Mexboro’ Urban District Council has been directed to the strikers’ encampment near Sparrow Barracks. The overcrowded and unsanitary conditions are seen as a risk to public health, and now that the strike is over, it is hoped the encampment will soon be removed.
The Intimidation Cases
Sunday marked the close of the strike, and on Monday the cases against Croft, Nolan, Staniforth, and Parker were heard. The prosecution alleged intimidation through processions and demonstrations, while the defence argued these were orderly expressions of sympathy.
The jury found the prisoners guilty on two counts, but deferred sentence until Nolan’s case was heard.
Nolan was accused of discouraging men from returning to work. The key issue was whether his words were informational or coercive. He ultimately pleaded guilty.
In view of the strike having ended, all four defendants were bound over to keep the peace, a notably lenient outcome reflecting the changed circumstances.