South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 16 May 1942

Back to Work

Cortonwood in Full Production

As reported in our last issue the strike at Cortonwood Collery, Wombwell, which had been idle four days, was called off last Thursday. This followed an offer by Mr. D R. Grenfell, Secretary for Mines, to set up a court of arbitration to enquire into the factors of the dispute.

The eighteen hundred employees are now back on the status quo, and this week the colliery has been in full production. It is understood that Mr. W. L. Cook, Chief Conciliation Officer of the Mines Department, is “on the job,” and moves are being made toward a permanent settlement. The men struck work as a protest against a new price list involving a reduction of 3 ½ d. per ton for some 100 coal-getters in the Silkstonce seam.

Mr. D. R. Grenfell was at Manvers Main on Friday for the opening of a pithead canteen and solarium. To a “Times” reporter he said ‘ I am glad to find that the two sides recognised their joint obligations.” On the subject of the mining situation generally Mr. Grenfell said. “While I am proud to acknowledge the good spirit in Yorkshire. and In particular the splendid efforts which were put forward in the recent accident at Barnburgh, I do earnestly desire that the utmost cooperation and team-work shall be put forward this year to maintain our production in this prolific area.

It is quite impossible in this industry to avoid minor disputes, but they should not in time of war lead to a suspension of work. I shall help in every possible way to smooth out whatever differences arise in Yorkshire in order that this rich coal-producing seam shall make its full contribution to the war effort and to the success of the cause we all have at heart.”