Miners' National Union facts for kids
The Miners' National Union (MNU) was an important group that helped miners in Great Britain. It was like a club or organization for miners. Its main goal was to make mining safer and fairer for everyone who worked in the mines.
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What Was the Miners' National Union?
The Miners' National Union was a type of organization called a trade union. Trade unions bring together workers from the same job. They work to improve things like pay, safety, and working conditions for their members. The MNU specifically helped miners.
How the Union Started
The union began in 1863. At first, it had a longer name: the National Association of Coal, Lime and Ironstone Miners of Great Britain. People also called it the Miners' National Association.
What the Union Did
The MNU worked hard to get new laws passed that would help miners. They wanted rules that made mining safer and fairer. However, the union did not get involved in strikes. Strikes are when workers stop working to demand better conditions. Because of this, some miners who were on strike were disappointed because the MNU did not give them money to help.
A Big Success: The 1872 Coal Mines Act
The biggest achievement of the Miners' National Union was helping to pass the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872. This was a very important law! It made two big changes:
- Miners had to be paid by the weight of the coal they dug. This stopped unfair payments.
- It limited how many hours children could work in the mines. This helped protect young workers.
Changes and New Unions
In 1869, some former members of the MNU started a new group called the Amalgamated Association of Miners. This new group created many other unions across the country.
By 1875, the Amalgamated Association of Miners was having money problems. They talked with the Miners' National Union about joining together. In the end, the MNU's president, Alexander Macdonald, simply changed the name of his union to the "Miners' National Union." He then told members of the other group to join his union.
Other Unions That Joined
Many other miners' unions worked with or joined the MNU. These included:
- The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Miners' Association
- The Durham Miners' Association
- The Northumberland Miners' Association
- The South Yorkshire Miners' Association
The MNU also worked closely with the Scottish Miners' Association. The leader of the Scottish group, Alexander Macdonald, was also the president of the MNU.
The End of the Union
In 1898, the Durham Miners and a few smaller groups left the Miners' National Union. With only the Northumberland Miners still part of it, the MNU eventually closed down.
Important Leaders
Here are some of the key people who led the Miners' National Union:
Presidents
- 1863: Alexander Macdonald
- 1881: Thomas Burt
Secretaries
- 1863: Richard Mitchell
- 1865: John Worrall
- 1875: Thomas Halliday
- 1877: William Crawford
- 1890: John Wilson
