Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 11 January 1913
No “Coal Hole”
Cadeby Miners Excuse for Not Working
An interesting case under the Employer and Workman Act was beard. Harry Bates. miner, Swinton; Pat Cain, miner, Mexborough; and William Price, miner, Denaby, were summoned by the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company with breaking a contract of service and with absenting themselves without notice at the Cadeby pit on December 11th.
Mr. Gichard prosecuted on behalf of the company, and said that by absenting themselves from work each of the defendant , had done 10/- worth of damage. They all worked together at the commencement of the morning shift, but complained that there was no coal for them to get, and therefore said that they should not continue working.
The system of working at the Cadeby pit said Mr. Gichard, was by means of sequestial shifts—morning, afternoon, and night. It was very important for the correct working on the mine that as far as possible there should be uniformity in the work.
The circumstances which these men and had complained of were not unusual, and other men would have “ragged off” the coal and gone and working in the ordinary way. The stall was in exactly the same condition as the men on the previous shift had had it, but the defendants apparently thought that the coal should be left for them. For this reason they declined to work. If men declined to work except under conditions otherwise than the very best, there was an end of all discipline. One of the rules these men had broken was the regulation that each man should do a fair days work. Rule 6 also said that no man should leave this place without permission. Rule 9 stated that the orders of deputy’s, under manager, and officials should be obeyed. The other regulation contravened was that colliers should work in the manner prescribed by officials. The defendants in this case were “marking men,” that is to say that to work at places where they were appointed to be. They often changed their working place. Stall men on the other hand, were stationary. The stall where the offence occurred was number 164.
George Cooke, under manager said the men would not work because there was no “coal hole.” He asked them to go back to work and promised that he would see to the matter. They also sign a paper stated that they were only refused to work on that account. The men of the previous shift got in a lot of coal.
Alfred Dane, deputy, corroborated.
John Henry Barker, a “marking man,” said that he worked in the preceding shift, and he could say that the stall was suitable for working in.
Michael Raddy, “marking man” on the following shift, corroborated.
Harry Sykes Witty, manager, also saw no reason why the men should not work.
All the defendants admitted the offence, but pleaded justification.
George Woodward gave evidence on their behalf.
Each defendant was fined 10/– and costs.