Stirling Miners' County Union facts for kids
The Stirling Miners County Union was an important group for coal miners in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It was a trade union, which means it was an organization where workers joined together. They worked to get better pay, safer conditions, and fair treatment for miners.
How the Union Started
This union started with a different name. It was called the Stirlingshire, Forth and Clyde Valley Miners' Association. It began in 1886. Its first leader was a man named Chisholm Robertson.
In 1894, this group helped create a bigger organization. This was the Scottish Miners' Federation. But the union left the next year. Chisholm Robertson had a disagreement with the leaders of the Federation. They argued about money given to miners during strikes.
After this, William Webb became the new secretary. But many members left the union. The number of members dropped from 3,000 to only 800. So, in 1899, the miners from Stirlingshire decided to form their own union. They separated from the Forth and Clyde Valley miners. This new group became the Stirling Miners County Union.
Growth and Merging
When the Stirling Miners County Union first started, it had only 342 members. But it grew a lot over time! By 1910, it had its highest number of members, reaching 7,500.
Later, in 1945, the union joined with other similar groups. They all came together to form a larger organization. This new, bigger group was called the Stirling and Lothians Area of the National Union of Mineworkers.
Leaders of the Union
Here are some of the people who led the union as secretaries:
- 1886: Chisholm Robertson
- 1896: William Webb
- Around 1920: James Barbour
