Letter to the Editor: Women and pit surface work
Transcript of a letter printed in the Newcastle Journal
Excerpt from The Newcastle Journal, Monday 27 December 1915:
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WOMEN AND PIT SURFACE WORK
Sir, – I read in your issue this week the report of the action against the officials of the Seaton Delaval Coal Company. The inspector of mines Mr J.R.R Wilson, expressed the opinion that persons concerned in the management of coal mines at the present time were in a difficult position. This certainly applies in other ways. For instance, does it seem reasonable that the Durham Miner’s Association should refuse to allow women and girls to work on a colliery surface?
Scattered over the county of Durham (and the same applies to Northumberland) there are a large number of women in the various colliery villages who are anxious to give their services in earning remunerative wages, and what is more important, releasing the men, and I understand the men generally are willing that women should be so employed.
In view of the suspension of trade union rules and regulations during the war, and the remarks that have been addressed to trade union representatives during the past week by Mr Lloyd George, it would be interesting to know the grounds on which the men’s officials can legally and practically oppose altogether the employment of women at collieries.
WOMAN WORKER
Date: 27 December 1914
Author: The Newcastle Journal
Where to find this: British Newspaper Archive
Newcastle Central Library
Contributed by Fiona Johnson
