Darfield Main Branch of the Yorkshire Miners Association
Miners faced a real struggle in establishing a viable Trade Union to represent them. The Mine owners would often victimize, dismiss, blacklist and evict anyone who became involved.
The first attempt to form a national union came in 1842 when the Miners Association of Great Britain and Ireland was founded. In 1844 the newly formed Association led a 5-month strike for better wages, but by 1848 the movement had been crushed to the point, that it no longer existed.
The mine owners made it quite clear at the time that they wouldn't deal with or allow a unionised work force
In 1858 the South Yorkshire Miners Association was formed at the White Bear Inn Barnsley, but membership remained low and by the late 1870s the SYMA was looking to merge with the West Yorkshire Miners Association. The merger became reality in July 1881, the SYMA was dissolved, and the merged associations would now be known In 1863 another attempt was made to form a National Union, but this was a disappointment to the miners because the focus would be more about representing in court or parliament, than engaging with the owners to improve working conditions and pay.In 1889 the Miners Federation of Great Britain was born, and the miners finally had a national voice. The driving force behind the MFGB was to focus all the Area Associations into one voice for resolving, National Issues such as pay and conditions etc.Everything else would be resolved at the Branch or Area level. This meant that the Area Associations would retain their anonymity on all local issues.Darfield Main was active within the ranks of :Miners Federation of Great Britain, 1889 to 1932 (name changed)Mineworkers Federation of Great Britain 1932 to 1945 (name changed)National Union of Mineworkers 1945 to Present although no mines remain.
The Yorkshire Miners Association retained their autonomy as did all the other areas.
Coal Mine Regulation and Legislation from 1842
Victorian legislators were so concerned about working conditions in coal mines, the huge loss of life and the employment of women and children in such conditions.
In 1842 a Report by a Royal Commission on the employment of women and children in the mines exposed the depths of human degradation that the report revealed. It showed that Mine Owners took no responsibility for the welfare of the miners be it man, woman or child. It was common for children aged eight to be employed, but they were often younger with examples of children as young as 5 or 6 working underground. With all this revealed it would not be long before legislation was passed in Parliament prohibiting Women and Girls from working in the coal mines and boys under 10 were also prohibited. The first act came in 1842Further legislation was passed in 1850 which focused on the number of fatalities and the accidents behind them, the sheer scale was frightening.The Coal Mines Inspection Act introduced the appointment of Coal Mine Inspectors, It set out their powers and duties, and placed them under the supervision of the Home Office.The Coal Mines Regulation Act came into force and its purpose was
improved safety rules and raising the age limit for boys from 10 to 12. But things were very slow to change and it would need much more legislation before the life of a miner improved and his safety was taken seriously
As the 1860’s came to an end the information at hand showed just how slow the changes were taking place. In 1870 over 1,000 lives were still being lost in mining accidents every year. so more legislation was passed in 1872. The Coal Mines Regulation Act introduced the statutory requirement for all pit managers to have state certification of their training. It also gave miners the right to have their own inspectors.
The Mines Regulation Act of 1881, made it a responsibility of the Home Secretary or his nominated representative to hold inquiries into the causes of mine accidents. Although things were going in the right direction It remained clear, that many aspects of mining would need further intervention and regulation.The pit almost always backed the unions position. Local disputes were always well supported, in fact during one such dispute over a sacked employee at Dodworth, Darfield Main was the last pit to return to work.