Revival of Unionism in North Staffs 1876
Contrary to the prognostications and anticipations of a great number of persons o be wise in their day and generation, the miners’ Association in this district is gaining week by week. The public meetings which have been held during the present week have been well attended; and the audience in each place has listened with profound attention to what the speakers have said. On Tuesday evening 17th January 1876 was held in the Temperance hall, Kingsley; and not withstanding the break-down at one of the pits in the neighbourhood having caused a number of miners to leave the locality for a time, the audience was good. About 3 weeks ago the miners employed by the Consul Iron Co. Received 14 days notice for a reduction of 10% in pay. The said notice expired on Saturday last, but the men were told to work on at their old rate of wages. For a few days a dark cloud had hung over the quiet and neat looking village of Kingsley; but the sun of prosperity rose again, and the inhabitants seemed glad and cheerful once more.
The Kingsley Lodge has been in connection with the association in the district about 4 years; and the leading men have kept it together very well. The new rules seemed to affect some of its members a little; but after calm deliberation and reflection they have decided to stick to the district. On the same evening a meeting was held at Cheadle. At this lodge a little misunderstanding had arisen about the new entrance fee; but the matter was explained and the members passed a resolution in favour of keeping with the district, and pay their contributions according to rule.
On Wednesday evening last, a meeting was held at Pitts hill, the audience was large and respectable, a number of ladies were present, and they seemed to enjoy the meeting very much. The committee of the Pitts Hill Lodge are making a special effort to increase its members, and it is expected that they will not labour in vain, as the spirit of combination is high in that neighbourhood.
The meeting at Mount Pleasant, although it was commenced an hour earlier than usual, was well attended. The officials of the district are receiving very good reports from many Lodges, and no doubt at their next return their numbers will have augmented a great deal. We hear of only one drawback and the discontent is existing at a place it was least expected, but we trust that all will be put right and in future we shall have one great object in view, viz., the propagation and promulgation of the Miners’ Association.
It has long been the desire of a great number of the most intelligent miners in the union to have a central fund, and be made one common brotherhood. We know of no district that has prospered with its funds divided; and if one could be found that has lived for a few years under such government we have no guarantee of its long duration of its future. The benevolent funds will prove a great social blessing to hundreds of poor miners and their families.
Single men do not at all times make provision against accidents and sickness, but now there is no excuse at all. The power of preparing for emergencies is within the reach of all miners under 55 years of age and in good health. We are informed that a poor man has died very suddenly during the present week. He worked for W. Bowers, Esq. we believe.
He was a member of the Miners’ Lodge, Joiner’s Square; he paid 12 weeks’ contributions, had he lived to pay 1s more he would have been eligible to benefits. We do not hear that the poor man had any relations, but it is expected that the Miners’ Union will see about his remains being decently interned. Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
By union the sick man will be visited and assisted; by union widow and the fatherless will be fed and clothed; by union the aged miner will be supported; by union colliers can defend themselves under all circumstances, and secure those rights which all men have a right to enjoy. Let the word Union be sounded in every dale and upon every hill. Let the Union be a house-hold word in every miner’s home.
Thousands of families have suffered deep poverty a privation for the lack of union. Tens of thousands of children have borne the pinching of hunger for the want of combination and assistances in time of need. It is the old story, “United we stand, divided we fall.” We know of nothing to equal the benevolent funds of the Miners’ Association, and every collier ought to embrace his golden opportunity and enlist under the banner of the North Staffordshire National Union of Miners.