AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC FROM THE PITMEN
"Delegates Meeting, Newcastle, May 6th 1831"
We , the pitmen of the collieries on the rivers of Tyne and Wear, do certify to our friends and the public, that on Thursday, the 5th inst, we convened a meeting on the Black Fell for the purpose of laying before the same the terms offered to us by the the select number of viewers, when the Marquis of Londonderry was present, who , with some magistrates, backed by the military, and threatening to bring more from Newcastle and Sunderland, more than once threatened to read the Riot Act if we did not disperse. But, by reason of our importunity that they would accede to our reasonable demands, his Lordship volunteered (as we hoped) to be mediator if we would disperse, and we accordingly acceded to his request and he positively promised to guarantee one point, and to meet the delegates at Newcastle on the 5th. We met him accordingly and he agreed to one point; but today we met, expecting to come to a happy conclusion, and three of the select number of viewers, put the following questions to the deputation from the delegate meeting :-
Question1.
Will you give up every other point and go immediately to work upon terms offered
by the
collieries on the 19th March, subject to the various concessions already
made,
provided the 30s, offered by the Marquis for 10 days, and subject to the
fines, be
given up ?
Answer
We cannot agree to this in consequence of the fines not being taken into consideration.
Question 2.
Will each colliery
go to work as they severally agree with their employers without
reference to other
collieries.
Answer.
As soon as the eight
points respecting the bond are settled each colliery will then endeavour
to agree with their employers work.
The following are the eight points referred to in the bond.
1.
Respecting being turned out of our houses as soon as our time of hiring is up;
we want this clause
done away out of the bond the owners offer to
give us 14 days after the expiration of the bond.
Agreed.
2.
Putters renks (the distance the putters go for each corf). We ask for the first
renk to be 60 yards
at 1s. 4d, the owners propose 80 yards at
1s.2d and 1d per score advance as soon as the distance
exceeds 80 yards, with conditional price
for heavy putting
Agreed.
3.
Working hours (the time we are underground). We want the time to commence as
soon as the lads
begin to go down the pit. viz, to work 12
hours from that time. the owners offer that the pit draws
coals 12 hours; and again they want the
lads to be half an hour down the pit before the 12 hours
commence.
Agreed.
4.
Binding (the time the bonds are read) We wish the binding to be at the usual
time.
Agreed.
5.
Adjusting the corves (To have the corves made less when they get too large, or
made larger when
they get too little) We are willing to send
20 pecks to bank, or rather 87.249ths imperial gallons,
but to have the privilege of seeing that
the corves are not to be larger than is necessary to hold
87.249ths imperial gallons, provided that
we do not stop work, and to be done within three days.
Agreed
6.
Fines (for small mixture of stones, rusty, or small coals, sixpence, one
shilling, and sometimes more
for one corf). we want only to be fined the price
of the corf for laid-out.
The owners will not agree to
this.
7.
Working days with the rate of wages in the minimum. we ask 11 days per fortnight
for 25
fortnights per year, subject to the
provisions in the 7th article of the bond, the wages to be 3s per
day or 33s per fortnight, out of which the
fines are to be deducted. the owners offer 10 days at 3s
per day, if we agree to the propositions
offered on the 19th March.
8.
Respecting laying the pit idle. we want this amendment made to the 7th article
of the bond :- that
if by accident happening to the engine
sufficient to lay the pit idle, or the pit to be rendered unfit
for working, and the said parties, &c the owners
want that if by any accident happening to the
engine or from any other cause, a pit shall be
rendered unfit for working, and the said parties, &c.
We wish obnoxious part to be entirely taken out
of the same article which says and in case they are
permitted by the said owners to find employment
elsewhere, and that such employment may be had.
These are the points upon which we have been contending, and the progress which had been made towards their adjustment, before the last meeting; from which it will be seen, that upon five points in dispute, the pitmen had agreed to the proposals of the owners. But because the pitmen have not given up the remaining points, the owners now want them to come to terms offered on the 19th March, before any of the above points were adjusted. From this plain statement, the public will be able to judge between us, and see which party has made the most concessions.