BRITAIN’S COAL INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 January 1931, Page 2

BRITAIN’S COAL INDUSTRY

WAGES AND HOURS NO SETTLEMENT REACHED (United Aanooiat,ion —By Eloctrlo Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 30th December. The coal miner’s proposal is a weekly spreadover of 45 hours on five days of 7f and on Saturday 63. Owners insist on a fortnightly spread of 87 hours, consisting of ten days of eight hours, and on Saturday of 7 hours, and the other Saturday to be a holiday. Miners’ representatives argue that the loss of a day’s pay would mean a reduction of wages averaging 5s weekly, to which employers reply that there is not money ■enough to pay the wages which prevailed under the eight hour s arrangement. Only 30 per cent, oi the South Wales miners arc members of the Federation, so it is not certain if a stoppage would be extensive or prolonged. SOUTH WALES MINERS INSTRUCTIONS TO STOP WORK LONDON, 31st December. The Miners’ Federation has officially announced that it has instructed the South Wales miners not, to work to-mor-row. It is hoped that tlm stoppage will ho brief. Negotiations will bo re-opened before the instructions are issued. Strenuous efforts are being made by representatives of the Mines Department who consulted the miners’ leaders and approached the chairman of the Coal Owners’ Federation, who refused to depart from the terms already offered. OVER 400 PITS IDLE EARLY SETTLEMENT HOPED FOR LONDON, Ist January. There are 420 pits idle in £outli Wales and only safety men are on duty keeping the mines ready for resumption of work; but coal getting continues at about 50 pits. Good humour is general and pickets at mine entrances are cheery ; but miners generally expect that the joint meeting between owners anc the Trade Union leaders Saturday will find a solution to the trouble. Miners’ wives generally are praying that the men may work again on Monday. efforts at settlement OWNERS ADHERE TO PROPOSALS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY. Ist January. The Government made an unsuccessful effort yesterday to bring about a resumption of negotiations on the South Wales coalfields. Although the stoppage of work will begin to-day it is hoped to be of short duration. A meeting of the Conciliation Board is called for Saturday. . Probably 150,000 men are involved. No open concession lias been made by the owners, who adhere to the main point that the readjustment of hours must involve a reduction of wages, lhe decision of the miners’ executive to agree to an examination of the possibilities by the Conciliation Board as to the extension to July of the present terms of employment, suggests a readiness on their part to reconsider the earlier opposition to the spreadover arrangement adversely affecting wages.