The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-19 00:00:00

STRIKES.

One conspicuous and lamentable fact still re-
mains, the liability to have the industry of this most
important district, in all its numerous branches,
seriously affected, and a vast amount of loss inflicted
upon every- interest within it, by the combinations
and strikes of the colliers.

Towards the end of June (1858) a strike of the
" thick-coal colliers" commenced, and did not ter-
minate until near the end of October. The men de-
manded 59. a day. The masters alleged that the
state of the market " made it impossible for them to
give that rate." Early in October it was calculated
that there were upwards of 6,000 men on strike, be-
longing to 120 pits, principally in the Oldbury and
West Bromwich districts, but comprising many also
in the west of Dudley. Much illegal interference with
colliers who were willing to work had taken place,
and also many acts of vagrancy and begging, ac-
companied with intimidation. Several meetings of
the magistrates were convened by the Lord-Lieu-
tenant (Lord Hatherton), and active measures were
resorted to by the magistrates of Staffordshire and
East Worcestershire, and the police of both coun-
ties, for the detection and punishment of offenders,
and for preserving the peace of the district, at the
various open air meetings, which were attendedby
large bodies of colliers.

The strike having lasted 14 weeks, and threaten-
ing to become still more serious, a meeting of the
Coal Masters' Association for the two counties was
called, and was held on the 7th October at Birming-
ham, the chairman (Philip Williams, Esq., High
Sheriff of Staffordshire), presiding. The opinion
of the meeting was stated in the followitg terms
" The meeting, in the first place, considers it neces-
sary, with a view to bring the point at issue be-
tween the coal masters and the colliers fairly under
review, to call attention to the fact, that in conse-
quence of the serious and long-continued depression
in the price of iron, coal, and all iron making ma-
terials, it was found necessary at the commencement
of the present year, to effect an immediate reduc-
tion to an extent of about 20 per cent on the wages
of every department connected with the iron and
coal trades ; that this reduction was cheerfully sub-
mitted to by every description of men employed in
the -works of the district, with the underhtanding
that on a revival of trade, and an improvement in
the price of iron, the rate of wages should receive
a proportionate augmentation. The men have ever
Since been steadily at work at this reduction, except
in the Oldbury and West Bromwich districts, where
they have been in receipt of the old rate of 6s. per
day, although the price of bar iron has since been
further reduced 10s. It being found therefore ab-
solutely necessary that the rate of wages there
should be placed on the same footing as that paid
in other parts of South Staffordshire, notice was
given in June last for a reduction from ss. to 4s.
per day; and at this reduced rate an ordinary collier
may readily earn 28s. per week, with the usual allow-
ance of two quarts of beer, and his fire coal in addi-
tion. To this reduction the Oldbury and Webt
Bromwich colliers refused to accede, insisting on
retaining the previous rate of ss. per day, and they
have now been out on strike about 14 weeks. Be-
sides refusing to work themselves, these men have
had recourse to threats, various modes of intimida•
tion, and urgent appeals for support and co-opera-
tion from the colliers in other parts of the districts
who have been steadily and contentedly at work at
the reduction since February last. In the meantime
the men on strike are endeavouring to support
themselves by begging, and other appeals for sup-
port, whilst the large sums which should be dis-
bursed in wages for the benefit of the neighbour-
hood are being expended for the purchase of coal

and coke from other districts. It is only necessary '
to add, that if the resistance to the proposed reduc-
tion of wages on the part of the colliers in question
is founded on just and reasonable grounds, those
classes of men who have already been reduced may
with as much reason demand that their wages
should be again raised; a process that, in the pre-
sent state of trade, would speedily shat up nearly
every iron work and colliery in the South Stafford-
shire district, and throw the bulk of the iron trade
population out of employ."
The resolution founded on this statement was—
" That the attempt of the thick coal colliers of the
Oldbury and West Bromwich district to maintain
their rate of wages at ss. a day, and the proceedings
to which they have had recourse in furtherance of
their object, in the face of the serious and long-con-
tinued depression in the state of the iron and coal
trade, is unreasonable and unjust, and will be stre-
nuously resisted."
The above "fair and dispassionate statement,"
and the resolution founded on it, were signed by
upwards of 50 coal and ironmasters in the district.
Among the names, which include nearly every firm
of importance in the district immediately concerned,
are many gentlemen unsurpassed in the manufae•
turing world for high integrity, for an enlightened
and generous regard for the welfare of the people
under them, and for a due sense of the responsibilities
which belong to their position. No right-minded
person in the district would hesitate for a moment to
accept as scrupulously true the plain statement to
which such a body of gentlemen have placed their
names, and as their full justification for the course
they felt obliged to pursue. With the colliers
themselves it had its effect, and by the following
week they had nearly all resumed work at the re-
duction proposed by the masters, after a disastrous
and ineffectual struggle of 15 weeks.

It may reasonably be asked whether the facts so
fully and so temperately laid before them by the
masters were before unknown to them ? By no
means. They were fully cognisant of them, but
they preferred to listen to bad advice from persons
of their own class, and others who took upon them-
selves to interfere, who had nothing to do with the
matter—one described as a "herbal doctor," and
others as little competent to direct them aright.

Their conduct during this period, when many
among them were suffering severe privation, was on
the whole quiet and orderly. The police, how-
ever, were strong and vigilant. If, as was thought,
the general absence of violent proceedings, such as
used formerly to occur on these occasions in this
district, indicated a moral improvement in the mass
of the colliers, it cannot be said that the course they
took in determining upon a strike, under the circum-
stances of the case, showed that their intelligence
had increased in equal proportion, or that much ad-
vance had been made towards the right understand-
ing of each otherbetween the masters and their men,
and towards that mutual confidence which might be
looked to as the effectual guarantee against the per-
petual recurrence of these unfortunate contests.
Accordingly, within a few weeks after the appa-
rent settlement of the question, it was re-opened ;
and in the second week of November notice was
given on behalf of the Oldbury and West Bromwich
colliers that unless an advance of 6d. a-day was
given (their previous demand having been for Is.),
they would cease work. In a few cases, which were
stated to be exceptional, the demand was acceded
to ; but the masters as a body adhered to their
resolution. No very large number of the men
put their threat into execution, but by the second
week in December about 1,500 men were "on
strike" in the two districts east and west of Dudley,
and were addressed by their leaders, and en-
couraged to hold out, and to support each other by
the united action of the men of both districts.
Again, in January and February, the leaders en-
deavoured to incite the men to a demand of the
advance; but gradually labour was generally re-
sumed, and has so resmained. _ _

In the meantime, during the period over which
these struggles extended, great distress was felt by,
the men and their families, and much loss was in-
flicted upon the masters and upon the whole com-
munity. When the strike commenced the iron
trade was said to be " reviving ;" the men, how-
ever, "would not wait," hut, acting on bad advice,
made a premature demand for an advance of wages,
which their masters could not grant, and then, by
ceasing to work, caused many orders to be lost to
the district, and stimulated the supply of coal from
neighbouring coalfieldss, so as to prevent the con-
sumers in South Staffordshire from being alto-
gether dependent upon the coal raised there. The
natural result will be that, as soon as the demands
of trade decline there will be a larger proportion
of the colliers of South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire out of employ, and it must be some
time before the trade altogether returns to its
natural channels. Many shopkeepers asserted that,
rather than incur again the losses from want of
custom, and from extra expenses, and from contri-
butions to the men on strike, they would leave the
district altogether. A gentleman, largely engaged
in the coal trade, published an address, recommend-
ing a compromise, in order to put an end to the
strike, in which he st.atecl that still, in the first
week in December, many collieries were closed, and
many others had only a few men at work—that all
interests were suffering, that partial ruin to many
was inevitable, thousands of pounds per week,
formerly paid as wages, having ceased to
circulate —and that the buyers of coal,
manufacturers, :and housekeepers, were paying-
dearer for their coal, either by using au
inferior quality, or by an advanced price, or both.