Leeds Mercury – Thursday 28 April 1938

Miners’ Strike at Barnborough

Some 2,000 Workers Affected

A dispute involving a local Yorkshire Mineworkers’ Association branch committee man led to a strike at Barnborough Main Colliery, near Mexborough, today.

It is understood, that yesterday, following an accident in which youth was slightly injured, the committee man, Mr. Alfred Jones, had an argument with a deputy. It Is alleged by the colliery management that the committee man used abusive language to the official and he was sent out of the pit. To-day his lamp was stopped, which meant his suspension from work. The men worked the morning shift on an undertaking that the management would meet deputation of the branch committee to negotiate on the dispute, but the meeting was postponed until the afternoon.

In the meantime, however, miners refused to descend the pit for the afternoon shift unless Jones was Immediately reinstated. The management stated that no negotiation would opened unless the men continued work.

At a mass meeting the miners held at Goldthorpe, the workmen reaffirmed their decision not to work unless Jones was reinstated. The stoppage now involves the whole of the 2,000 employees at the pit.