Letter to Coal-Proprietors North Staffs 1844

Letter to Coal-Proprietors North Staffs 1844 Researched by John Lumsdon

Gentlemen – We, your humble servants, are desirous of offering to your notice some plan whereby our condition may be bettered, and likewise calculated to assist you in obtaining such a return for your capital, as will enable you to give a sufficient remuneration to the workmen. We think that hitherto an unnatural system of completion has prevented that reciprocity of feeling and interest between the Master and Servant, which is an essential to the welfare of both. We are also of opinion that if a proper understanding did exist between the Employer and Employed, various means might be adopted to bring about an amicable adjustment of all our differences.

If our employers would confer together to consider the means resorted to by some of the Coal Proprietors to fill the market, they would discover that some have been selling as much as 30 cwts to the Ton, and offering premiums for purchasers. The tendency of this practice has been that those Masters, who sell by the regular weight, have suffered in the market. But one of the most prolific evils that have befallen Masters and Servants, is the long hours we have had to work, forced upon us, we opine, by the competition engendered by those masters who have been determined to force a trade. We are likewise of opinion that such a system in practice produces the effect of deteriorating the principle of fair and honest trading, glutting the market, and in consequence, to reduce the price of labour, the supply being greater than demand.

We desire to put before you a proposition which we consider would more equalise the labour market, and bring it down to a more natural level, by making the supply equal to the demand. Such a desideratum, we believe, would not only give an increased interest to your capital, but render you capable of giving a better price for our labour; the Masters being in a position to demand a more reasonable price for the coal from the consumer.

We propose that the hours of labour shall be eight instead of ten, twelve etc. as hitherto. The tendency of this would be to make the supply equal to the demand, and thus destroy the ruinous course adopted of competing with each other in the market, and giving the public that which belongs to Master and Men. As a class, we only desire to live by our labour; and it is our desired opinion that, from the laborious labour of our employment and the dangers we are constantly exposed to, it is but reasonable that our hours of labour should be lessoned. By the paucity of our incomes we have been deprived of means for mental cultivation. Our degradation has been the by-word to other classes. But by having more time at our command and a better price for our labour, we hope to instruct ourselves and our families, mentally, morally, and physically: 2 thereby enabling us to perform the domestic and social duties of life more efficiently, and hope to be a blessing to you and the community at large. To conclude, we entreat you to bestow on this, our earnest and sincere request, your careful and best consideration and if you should be pleased to agree with us as respects the principle on which it is founded, it will be alike creditable to your judgement and in your interest. We remain yours, &c. The Miners of North Staffordshire March 2nd 1844.

The Miners To the Coal Proprietors of North Staffordshire and the Public Generally.

Gentlemen and Fellow – Countrymen, - A report having been currently circulated through the district of North Staffordshire, in reference to our claims and objects, we think it our duty to set the public and our employers right with respect to those claims, and prevent if possible, any inaccurate or false conclusions.

We assure our employers and the public, that we desire nothing inconsistent with reason or justice: for our request is, that we may have that remuneration for our hard toiling, which would be commensurate with our happiness, well-being, and domestic comfort.

Our first request to our employers, and for which we have been turned out of our employment, is as follows; that we work eight hours per day, and four and a half pence per hour. Our proposal is that we work six months on the above terms, in order that we may give our employers a given time to dispose of their old stock to the best advantage: and in proposing this, we have no desire that our masters should in anyway be compelled to make any sacrifice of their property, but allow them, in the interval given, to make arrangements with their customers, and to enter on fresh terms with those they deal with.

Our hours of labour being shortened will have the effect of bringing all into employment (and we suppose everyone to have a right to live by his labour) and this principle being adopted we conclude, the markets would be more steady, labour would be more regular, the masters meanwhile have the power to enter into new engagements with their customers! And, as a matter of course, from the adoption of these mutual advantages the masters will be able to afford the men a better price for their labour.

Ultimately then, when a fair principle of trading is adopted by all, we conjecture the masters will hold a position to command a greater price for coal; and then we hope they will see the necessity of conceding to our ultimate object, viz. --- 3

4s per day for eight hours per day labour. We think this a reasonable demand, and not too much to support our families in comfort. The public, we believe, are willing to give a price for coal; and if the masters would only adopt the right way to meet the markets in the way we have recommended we have no doubt all our differences might be brought to an amicable settlement.

By order of the Delegate Meeting. 25th March 1844