BERT WYNN REPLIES TO LORD ROBENS from the Derbyshire Miner,
The speech made by Lord Robens at the Annual Conference of the miners gives further clues as to the basic thinking of the Coal Board Chairman in regard to the policy he wishes to pursue to make the industry successful. At the top of his priorities is the need to sell 200 million tons ofcoal. eeeeethe need to keep up sales is emphasised on the grounds of marginal cost. Any diminution of sales down to 190 million tons would increase costs by 5/- and SO ONeeeseeee He then goes on to say that the industry can increase its productivity by eight per cent per annum and in a short while the industry will become profitable.
Let us look at the effect an eight per cent increase in production will have on the Board's finances. The chief saving will be manpower and if previous years are any guide, 20,000 reduction in manpower per annum will result in a saving of £14 million in wages. To offset this, one must take into account capital cost and other factors, such as increased prices of stores and equipment of all kinds. The move in this direction is usually about four per cent per annum. Then wage drift to pieceworkers accounts for about £4 million, so at the best we cannot expect more than £4 million to be available for reform. That is providing that the Board gives no more away in reduced prices. If this is so = let us tell the miners:- No increased pension = No back shift payment - No substantial pay increases for low-paid workers,
Let us be frank and say that we can only compete with oil on the basis of low day wages and no increase in benefitsecece
Are these the "facts of life" we were called upon to face by Lord Robens? eeeeebut there is another factor; another "fact of life" that must be faced. In these days of near full employment and better mobility of labour, the worker has a greater chance of employment and in spite of greater mechanisation, miners are leaving the industry at the rate of between 20,000 and 25,000 per year and pits are being made uneconomic because full production camnot be achievedeeseeslt is a straight issue; the wages and conditions of some miners (if not all) will have to be substantially improved or a shortage of manpower will defeat all the efforts of the Cogl Board to hold present efficiency, let alone improve it. This cannot wai e complete re-organisation and mechanisation of the industry, it must precede it. If need be, let us go jointly to the Government and put the problem to them. The nationalised coal industry has not cost the country a penny. Up to now, the Government has only acted as our moneylender, while we have put millions into the hands of private industry by low coal prices.....Let's ask the nation whether the coal indus is use to it. If it is not, "let's tell the miners". "Let us get out in an organised manner",
If we are dependent upon winning the fight with cheap oil then the immediate future is bad for the miners. If this is true, them let us be frank with the men in the industry..... In my opinion, the "minimum" immediate requirements of the men ares= 1. Increase in surface day-rates, bringing the guaranteed wage for the lowest grade on the surface to £12, 2. Undergound grade 5, £13 per week. Craftsmen - Underground grade 1, Mechanics and electricians, £17 with bonuses for face craftsmen. Craftsmen Surface and Central Workshops = Mechanics and electricians and allied trades - £14,