Overview

Originally published in 1962, this is an important work in the history of Trade Unionism. The period covered by this volume saw momentous changes in the structure of trade unionism in the mining industry in England. In 1914 every coalfield had its own District Union. These district unions were bound together into a loose Federation. During the war years the locus of power shifted from the district associations to the national Federation. Internal arguments in the Federation based on economic and ideological grounds took place during the 1920s. A grass-roots study, this book shows why non-political trade unionism took hold in the Nottinghamshire coalfield but failed elsewhere. The importance of the Nottinghamshire pits was their economic position, which was favourable in comparison to other mines. The book examines the character and decision-making of the people who shaped the destiny of the miners in the 1920s and 30s and discusses the difficult period from 1926-1937 when the old Nottinghamshire Miners’ Association was ignored by the coal-owners. The merits of district settlements which would enable the Nottinghamshire miners to maintain their relatively high wages, compared with national settlements which would tend to depress wages in the more highly paid counties are also analysed. The book will be of interest to economic and industrial historians, and students of industrial relations.

Full Product Details

9781041224167

Table of Contents

Reviews

Original Review of The Miners of Nottinghamshire: ‘What every reader of this volume will turn to is some new light on the Spencer Union, the only major example of a break-away company union in twentieth-century Britain, if the Seamen's Union be excepted.’ Sidney Pollard, The Economic History Review, New Series, Volume 15, No. 3 (1963)

Author Information

Alan R. Griffin (1924-1996) began work as a clerical officer at Cinderhill Colliery after leaving school. He attended Miners' Welfare Day Release courses arranged by the Nottingham University Extra-Mural Department, the National Union of Mineworkers and the Workers' Educational Association. This led to him attending Nottingham University in 1952, and in 1955 he achieved a B.A. honours degree under Professor J.D. Chambers of the Department of Economic History. In 1957, Griffin was appointed as Area Manpower Officer in the No. 7 (Leics. and South Derbyshire) Area of the East Midlands Division of the National Coal Board.

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