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North Wales Miners' Association

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The North Wales Miners' Association was a trade union representing coal miners in Wales.

The union was founded in 1891 as the Denbighshire and Flintshire Miners' Federation. In 1903, it was renamed as the "North Wales Miners' Association", while in 1935 it became the North Wales and Border Counties Mineworkers' Association.

Never a large organisation - the Association had only 7,500 members in 1945 - its General Secretary also served as its Agent, and that post was even left vacant from 1932 until 1934; Edward Jones was appointed shortly before the Gresford disaster.

The Association affiliated to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB). In 1945, the MFGB became the National Union of Mineworkers, and the Association became its North Wales Area, with less autonomy than before.

By the time of the 1984-85 strike, the region had only two pits operating. Its then Secretary, Ted McKay, opposed the strike, but the Bersham Colliery was heavily picketed by miners from other areas and did not work until November 1984.

The Area was dissolved in 2011.

Secretaries

1891: Ioan T. Williams 1897: Edward Hughes 1925: Hugh Hughes 1934: Edward Jones Jos Ellis Ted McKay 1987: Les Kelly 2005: Rosemarie Williams

References

North Wales Miners' Association Wikipedia