Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association

Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners' Association

Welsh coal strike of 1898, Western Mail. William Brace advises a miner to give up the fight against Sir William Lewis
Abbreviation	MSWCOA
Formation	1873
Extinction	1955
Type	Industry association
Legal status	Defunct
Purpose	Represent mine owners
Region	South Wales Coalfield
Official language	English
Owner	South Wales coal mine owners
Formerly called	1873–90: Monmouthshire and South Wales Collieries Association

The Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners' Association (MSWCOA) was an association of mine owners in South Wales that was active between 1873 and 1955. It fought wage increases, safety regulations, unionisation and other changes that would cut into profits. It managed to link miners wages, which were based on piece-work, to the price of coal. It was involved in various labour disputes, including a lengthy strike in 1926. The coal mines became unprofitable in the 1930s, and were nationalized in 1947, making the association irrelevant.

The Coal Owners Association has its origins in the Aberdare Steam Collieries Association, founded in 1864. In 1870 this association was restructured and renamed the South Wales Steam Collieries Association. It joined with the Iron Masters in 1873, taking the name of Monmouthshire and South Wales Collieries Association. In 1880 the association was restructured again. In 1890 it took its final name, the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coal Owners Association.

The executives of the Coal Owners Association included a chairman, vice chairman and secretary. Secretaries included Alexander Dalziel (1874–84), W. Gascoyne Dalziel (1884–1916), Finlay A. Gibson (1916–46) and Iestyn R. Williams (1947–50). Each of the three districts of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea had a chairman and vice-chairman. There was a chairman of the Sliding-Scale committee, a chairman of the Finance committee and a solicitor. Other committees were the Conciliation Board, District Boards, Commercial Committee, Disputes Committee and Coal Cutters and Conveyers Committee. At meetings of the association and district boards, each member in good standing had votes weighted depending on their mines' assured tonnage. Membership fees were also based on assured tonnage, so the larger owners paid more and had a greater say in decisions.

The Coal Owners Association represented the owners of the mines so they could present a common front when dealing with the miners and could resist wage increases. It also represented the owners in court cases resulting from labour disputes, and presented the owners' views on proposed legislation. The association was strongly opposed to safety legislation, working hours reductions and recognition of trade unions, and this resulted in a series a labour disputes. The members agreed to observe contracts made by the Association with workmen regarding their wages and employment conditions. They agreed not to hire workmen from another colliery during a strike at that colliery.

The association defined the "Sliding Scale", an arrangement that regulated all coal mining wages based on the price of coal. Different sliding scales were defined in 1875, 1880, 1882, 1890 and 1892. The scale of 1 January 1892 was agreed by representatives of the Coal Owners Association and delegates representing the colliery workmen other then engine men, stokers and outside fitters. The principle was that wages were based on the rates actually paid by the collieries under the December 1879 agreement, with a percentage increase or decrease based on the selling price of coal. This price was determined every two months as the average net selling price of coal delivered free on board at the docks of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Barry. The hewers received piece rates based on the net weight of coal extracted after eliminating small coal, paid every two weeks. The Sliding-Scale committee had to mediate constant disputes over wages between members.The Times of 29 December 1891 described the Association as follows,