North Staffordshire Miners' Federation

England

Members

16,709 (1910)

Parent organization

Midland Miners' Federation

The North Staffordshire Miners' Federation was a trade union representing miners in the area of Stoke-on-Trent, located in Staffordshire, in England.

The union was established in 1869 as an affiliate of the Miners' National Association (MNA). The association sent William Brown, an experience organiser, to become the union's first agent and secretary. Brown was highly successful at recruitment, raising membership to more than 12,000 by 1871. The union also affiliated to the more radical Amalgamated Association of Miners, although Brown personally favoured avoiding industrial disputes.^[1]

By 1874, the price of coal had fallen, along with miners' wages, and union membership. Brown faced criticism for not taking a cut in his own wages. Some lodges left the union, but Brown kept the majority together, reorientating it back towards the MNA.^[1]

In 1886, the union was a founder constituent of the Midland Counties Miners' Federation, and through this became an affiliate of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB).^[2] Membership reached a peak of 16,709 in 1907,^[3] then gradually fell. In 1945, the union became the North Staffordshire District of Midland Area of the National Union of Mineworkers, with far less autonomy than before.^[2]

General Secretaries

1869: William Brown

1874: James Hand

1877: Enoch Edwards

1912: Samuel Finney

1930s: Frederick James Hancock

1941: Hugh Leese

References

^ ^a ^b Seifert, Roger (2006). "The Importance of Being Permanent: A Study of the North Staffordshire Miners' Federation from 1869 to 1874". Midland History. 31 (1): 67–90.
^ ^a ^b Marsh, Arthur; Ryan, Victoria (1984). Historical Directory of Trade Unions. Vol. 2. Aldershot: Gower Publishing. p. 235. ISBN 0566021617.
^ Report on Trade Unions in 1905-1907. London: Board of Trade. 1909. pp. 82–101.