The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-01 00:00:00

THE THREATENED STRIKE OF MINERS.

At a seriPs of meetings of miners held on Tuesday,
in the Blackheath, Old Hill, and Cradley Heath
districts, it was resolved all miners cease work to-
day (Saturday) in the event of the employers iefus-
ing to concede an advance of 10 per cent, in wages.
It was contended by several speakers that miners
did no', receive sufficient a-ages to enabl3 them to
obtain the necessaries of life for themselves and
families

On Tues(lay night, a meeting of n-iners was held
at Oldbury with reference to the wages question,
and the notice: issued for an advance,—Mr S. H.
Whitehouse, in the corn se of a lengthy address, con-
tended that the n,tice gi, ea on behalf of the men
was legal, and he thought con d no te-overth- own.
Lie, however, advis, d the inen, before plunging into
a s:rike, to thorouvhly consider th lir position, and
whether they w re li.aely to win in the end. If they
came out on strike, and were compelled after a
time to go bick at the s one price, they.wauld suffer
a great loss in wages, and ittney were defeated in
the struggle, and had to return to work at 4d pr
, day reduction, they w old no .doubt then wish they
had not struck work,—Mr. H. East remarked that
lhe miners in North staffordshire weie going on
at the old rate of wages ; and according to the re-
ports )2 the papers the men in iNo;th Wales had
decided to withdraw the notic s, and some of the
places in this district had also decided to adopt the
same course.—The folLoing resoluticm was then
unanimously • carr ed hat this meeting, con-
ski, ring the act,on of the surrounding districts, re-
commends the District Couu.cil to- withdraw the
notice for an advance:of.wages."
On Tuesday evening a crowded meeting Of miners
held at the Old Bell inn, Netherton.- A miner
presuied,and the meeling was addressed by Mr. B.
Winwood (agent). A 'resolution was passed con-
demning the action of the employers at their meet-
ing in Birmingham, and the miners present further
resolved to turn out on strike on Monday next for
an advance of 10 per cent, upon the pres.tnt rate
of wages._ .

On Wednesday night a mass meeting of miners
was held at the Eat]. of Dudley's Arms, Dudley. It
was pointed out that by their agrPement the Can-
nock Chase men would have to go on wot king until
Christmas, and with Cannock at work it woud be
useless for the men in this district to play. After a
lively discussio,,, it was resolved to withdraw the
notices for an advance ur.til the, Cannock men
could join in the movements

On -Thursday evening a well-attended meeting of
miners was held. at the New Inn, High-street,
Brierley Hill. , Mr, B. Winwood (Blackheath)
presided, and urged upon those p.etent that if the
men remained stout th« y would get an advance in
their wages, nAtwithatancling the threats of t e
masters.—Mr. El. Southali (agent for 13rieiley .Hill
district) then addressed the meeting' and contra-
diced theirepOrt that the IVt st Biomwich men had
on Saturday last decided to withdraw the uotice.—
A Miner ht,served th,t there. was an opinion among
the me ll that they not ready for striking, and there
were E one in that room who tnter aiued that
tr dare not ape k o it. It had been said
too, ttlat h a strike were declared,. the men would
not be out more tan a diy.—Others arno,ig those
pres nt also spoke, and the opinion was expressed
that if an acv.ince in v ages could not now be ob-

t tined, it never wculd be.—Ultimately th 3 following
r d ution was unanimously carried :—" That we go
o.t on stiike unless the employers concede an ad-
vance of 10 per cent. en the present rate of Wagig
at the expiiation of the 14 days' notice."