Lewis H. Mates - The Great Labour Unrest: Rank-And-File Movements and Political Change in the Durham Coalfield

The Great Labour Unrest

Copyright Lewis H. Mates 2016

The right of Lewis H. Mates to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Published by Manchester University Press
Altrincham Street, Manchester M1 7JA

www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data applied for

ISBN 978 0 7190 9068 4

First published 2016

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I have incurred a massive number of debts in the course of researching and writing this book. First mention has to go to Kevin Davies, who has worked indefatigably sourcing excellent material from the regions numerous local newspapers; his unceasing enthusiasm and zest for this project has been inspirational. His catchphrase, Lewis, Ive got some information for you... always preceded the revealing of some gem he had won from among the interminable columns of newsprint. Dave Douglass kindly, and very usefully, read and commented on the entire draft manuscript, and I would like to thank very much MUPs anonymous reviewer for doing the same. Tony Mason and Polly Bentham at MUP have been tremendously patient, helpful and supportive, as has my copy-editor, Jessica Cuthbert-Smith. Gidon Cohen read , and has provided ongoing support and stimulating conversation, for which I am very grateful (even though there appears to be an informal chocolate biscuit tax in force). Martin Pugh kindly commented on earlier incarnations of several aspects of this book, as did Keith Gildart, Peter Mates, Paul Smith, Rob Stradling and Marcel van der Linden. Ralph Darlington, Matt Perry, Alastair Reid and Andrew Thorpe all generously provided feedback and advice on the book proposal. Many of my peers, including Matthew Adams, Yann Bliard, Stefan Berger, Sam Davies, Jonathan Hyslop, Nathan Jun, Ruth Kinna (and the Anarchist Studies Network more generally) and Chris Wrigley also provided feedback at various conferences in Britain, France and South Africa where I presented on facets of the project. My gratitude goes to the organisers of the Ninth International Congress of Mining History (Johannesburg, April 2012) who invited me and generously part-funded my appearance.

Thanks also to both the History Department and the School of Government and International Affairs of Durham University, who have also financially supported that and other conference trips in recent years. My colleagues at SGIA have been brilliant in providing a supportive and friendly working environment. I want to thank the staff of Beamish Museum, the British Library of Political and Economic Science, Darlington Public Library, Durham Public Library, Durham Record Office, Durham University Library, the Labour History Archive and Study Centre (Manchester), Newcastle Public Library, the North East England Mining Archive and Research Centre, Northumberland Record Office, Palace Green Archive, Durham, and Tyne and Wear Archives Service, who have all been incredibly helpful, and particularly Sue Donnelly, Francis Gotto, Andrew Gray, Julian Harrop, Reg Hughes, Gill Parkes, Jonathon Sides and Judith Walton. I would also like to thank Kate Beeby (Ruskin College Library), Gail Chester (Colindale Newspaper Library) and Nancy Clements (University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries). Constance Bantman, Trevor Bark, Harry Barnes, Kath Connolly (Durham WEA), Martyn Everett, Jack Fletcher, Benjamin Franks, Robert Graham, Kath and John Grimshaw, Davy Hopper (DMA), Nick Heath, David Howell, Ken John, Ian McKay, Emmet OConnor, Simon Oram, John Patten, Ray Physick, Alex Prichard, Dorothy Rand, Paul Simpson, Dave Temple, James Thompson, Don Watson, Chris Williams and Lucien van der Valt have all very kindly supplied valuable material, knowledge, advice and/or support.

Naturally, the interpretation and any mistakes are my sole responsibility. While I only met the late Duncan Tanner once (in 2005), I was impressed by his warmth and generosity. I am certain that he would have taken my engagement with his work in the spirit in which it is intended: critical but respectful. Finally, I would like to thank Lucy for all her ongoing support and encouragement; she remains one of the best. I dedicate this book to her, and to our beautiful daughters, Cerys and Shona.

BMA British Medical Association

CGT Confdration Gnrale du Travail (Confederation of Labour)

CLC Central Labour College

CPGB Communist Party of Great Britain

DCOA Durham Coal Owners Association

DFM Durham Forward Movement

DMA Durham Miners Association

DMFB Durham Mining Federation Board

DMRA Durham Miners Reform Association

DURM Durham Unofficial Reform Movement

ILP Independent Labour Party

ISEL Industrial Syndicalist Education League

ITWF Irish Transport Workers Federation

IWC Institute for Workers Control

IWGB Industrial Workers of Great Britain

IWW Industrial Workers of the World

JDB Joint District Board (for the minimum wage)

LRC Labour Representation Committee

MFGB Miners Federation of Great Britain

MWM Minimum Wage Movement

NMA Northumberland Miners Association

PLP Parliamentary Labour Party

SDF Social Democratic Federation

SLP Socialist Labour Party

SWMF South Wales Miners Federation

TUC Trades Union Congress

VPA Voluntary Political Association

WEA Workers Educational Association

BLPES British Library of Political and Economic Science

DRO Durham Record Office

LHASC Labour History Archive and Study Centre, Manchester

NEEMARC North East England Mining Archive and Research Centre

NLD National Library, Dublin

NRO Northumberland Record Office

PGAD Palace Green Archive, Durham

TNA The National Archives

TWAS Tyne and Wear Archives Service, Newcastle

Durham County Constituencies

A- Chester-le-Street

B- Jarrow

C- Houghton-le-Spring

D- North-west Durham

E- Mid-Durham

F- Barnard Castle

G- Bishop Auckland

H- South-east Durham

1- Chopwell

2- High Spen

3- Greenside

4- Addison

5- Blaydon

6- Dunston

7- Swalwell

8- Marley Hill

9- Redheugh

10- Gateshead (single member constituency)

11- Felling

12- Usworth

13- Birtley

14- Ravensworth

15- Ouston

16- West Pelton (Alma, Twizell, Handen Hold collieries)