The Warwickshire Miners' Association was a trade union representing coal miners in the Warwickshire area of England. In 1885, the Newdegate family leased their Warwickshire coal mine to a Sheffield-based company, who attempted to cut costs by reducing miners' wages. This prompted miners to strike, and afterwards they formed the Warwickshire and Stafford Miners' Trade Union, which was later renamed as the "Warwickshire Miners' Association". The union's first secretary was William Johnson, who later became a local Member of Parliament. In 1889, the union was a founder constituent of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB). In about 1892, it affiliated to the Midland Counties Miners' Federation, with Johnson becoming treasurer of the federation. The MFGB voted to affiliate to the Labour Party in 1909, but Johnson and the Warwickshire Miners refused to follow suit. This led to a series of disputes, and in 1912 a group of members including

Walter John French Walter John French (1868 – 1937) was a British trade unionist and politician. Born in Tamworth, Staffordshire, French did not receive a formal education. He became a coal miner, and joined the North Warwickshire Miners' Association. From 1 ...

split away to form the rival North Warwickshire Miners' Association.

George Henry Jones George Henry Jones (1884 – December 1958) was a British trade unionist and politician. Born in Hednesford, Jones began working as a pit-boy at an early age. He became active in the Cannock Chase Miners' Association, and was elected as its presi ...

became secretary of the North Warwickshire Miners, but moved to the Warwickshire Miners in 1919, and two years later was able to persuade the North Warwickshire Miners to rejoin the original union. At its peak, the union had 11,000 members, in 25 branches. The MFGB became the National Union of Mineworkers in 1944, and the Warwickshire Miners' Association became its Warwickshire District (Midlands Area), with less autonomy than before.

General Secretaries

:1885: William Johnson :1917: William Johnson, Jr :1919:

:1947: A. J. Pratt :1960s: Vivian Francis :1970s: Dick Storer

References

{{National Union of Mineworkers (UK) Mining trade unions National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain) Politics of Warwickshire 1885 establishments in England Mining in Warwickshire Trade unions established in 1885 Trade unions based in Warwickshire