Fife and Kinross Miners' Association facts for kids
The Fife and Kinross Miners' Association was a trade union for coal miners. It was based in Fife and Kinross-shire in Scotland. A trade union is a group of workers who join together. They work to improve their pay, safety, and working conditions.
Contents
A Look Back: The Miners' Union Story
The union started around 1869 or 1870. It quickly became successful. One of its first big wins was getting an eight-hour day for miners. This meant miners only had to work eight hours a day. It was the first union that mine owners in Scotland officially accepted.
In 1877, mine owners tried to stop the union. They did a "lockout," which means they closed the mines. This was to pressure the workers. But the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association was strong. It was the only miners' union in Scotland to survive this lockout.
The union strongly supported the 1892 UK miners' strike. A strike is when workers stop working to demand better conditions. The union even published a list of "strikebreakers." These were people who continued to work during the strike.
Joining Together: Bigger Unions Form
In 1894, the association helped start the Scottish Miners Federation. This was a larger group of miners' unions in Scotland. The Scottish Miners Federation then joined the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB). By 1907, the Fife and Kinross union had 15,500 members. That's a lot of miners!
In 1922, the Fife and Kinross Miners' Association joined with another union. It merged with the Clackmannan Miners' Association. Together, they formed the Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan Miners' Association (FKCMA).
Challenges and New Unions
The new FKCMA union faced some problems. It had several groups break away. One group was called the Miners' Reform Union. It was led by Philip Hodge. This group left almost right away.
This smaller union survived the big 1926 United Kingdom general strike. A general strike is when many different types of workers stop working. After this strike, the smaller union was allowed to rejoin the FKCMA.
However, in 1928, Philip Hodge became the General Secretary of the FKCMA. Then, William Adamson, a former leader, left. He started a new union called the Fife, Clackmannan, and Kinross Miners' Union. This new union was later recognized as the main union by other big mining groups.
The original FKCMA union eventually faded away. Some of its supporters formed the United Mineworkers of Scotland. Others wanted a union that wasn't involved in politics. They formed the "Fife, Kinross and District Industrial Trade Union." The United Mineworkers became more successful.
Becoming Part of a National Union
In 1944, the MFGB became the National Union of Mineworkers. This was a very large union for all miners in the UK. The FKCMA became its "Fife Area." This meant it had less independence than before. Later, it joined with another area. It became the "Fife, Clackmannan and Stirlingshire Area."
Union Leaders: General Secretaries
The General Secretary is the main leader of a union. They help run the union and speak for its members.
Original Union Leaders
- 1869: Henry Cook
- 1881: John Weir
- 1908: William Adamson
- 1917: James Cook
- 1928: Philip Hodge
Leaders of Adamson's Union
- 1928: William Adamson
- 1936: James Cook
- 1944: James Potter
- 1946: John McArthur
- 1956: Bill McLean
- 1963: Lawrence Daly
- 1965: (No name listed)
