WHO HIRES, FIRES AND PROMOTES IN THE PITS? by an East Midlands Coalminer
As a result of a research project which has »een carried out at ll collieries, certain facts have come to light which are very interesting.
One Colliery Manager in No. 1 Arca of the Uast Midland Division, interviewed by a Deputy, stated that he was uncertain who hired, who fired and who promoted. ‘hen pressed to give his reasons for his uncertainty, he said there were so many other agencies whom he must consult; for example, 4rea Manpower Officer, Medical Officer, Ilinistry of Labour, Area Records Office and the Unions. In the case of firing, he could not definitely state that he was responsible, except in the case of a serious breach of the Coal Mines Act. When asked to state who promoted, he said that he had to consult the following people: his own staff, the Industrial Relations Officer, the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and the Group Manager.
In six cases out of the other ten, managers had to consult with the unions when it came to hiring labour. In some cases the unions had more say than in others. In one colliery the Union has an embargo on coloured labour and in another there is a closed shop against foreign labour. When it came to firing, much more authority was left in the Manager's hands. Serious breaches of the C.M.A. seemed always to be dealt with by the Colliery Manager, but absenteeism is dealt with in various ways from pit to pit. Hore some of the responsibility is taken to a greater or lesser extent by the various Consultative Committees. The method taken to promote people varied with grade and from pit to pit. When promoting Deputies to Overmen all managers have tc consult with Area Officials. When promoting workmen to chargemen the process was more involved. For example: Markham No. 4 consult with union. Ollorton men elect chargemen. At Markham No. 2 and Hucknall under officials grade workmen. At New Lounts it is done by the Menager. At Gedling (in transition) men choose chargemen with managerial approval. At Clipstone it is done by the Manager, officials and Under ianager in consultation, but Rinoine chargemen evolve by process of who has taken over in the past when the original chargeman has been absent. Moorgreen has the same system as Clipstone for chargemen; overmen are appointed by the manager in consultation with the Production Manager and Area General lianager. Silverhill chargemen are promoted by deputies, under-officisls by the Area Selection Board. At Cossall there is no firing problem at the moment as it is very short of labour. In the past it has been limited by the requirements of the Area Manpower Officer. There has been nobody fired for years except in one case of a ran ill-treating a pony. Promotion varies for different grades: chargemen are selected by the district deputies and overmen in consultation with the men and under-manager; promotion of workmen to shotfirer by the maneger in consultation with ".A4.C.0.D.S. representatives. Deputies by the manager in consultation with the under manager, overmen, and N.A.C.0.D.S. representatives; overmen by the manager, under manager and Area Officials.
On looking through the information received from various collieries, it seemg that a lot of the prerogatives of the management have been encroached on, especially in the case of hiring. In the case of firing the unions are reluctant to take the same amount of responsibility. Methods of promotion vary to such a degree that one wonders at times if we are all working for the same Nationalised Industry.