The Mid and East Lothian Miners' Association (MELMA) was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

representing coal miners in parts of the

Lothian Lothian (; ; ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, while other signific ...

area of

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. The union described itself as having been founded in 1873 under the leadership of David Moffat,Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of British Trade Unions'', vol.II, p.226 but it was wound up the following year following an unsuccessful strike,Catherine P. Snodgress, ''The County of East Lothian'', p.161 Moffat having to relocate to Fife due to victimisation. The union was re-established in 1887 by George Young and

Robert Brown Robert Brown may refer to: Robert Brown (born 1965), British Director, Animator and author Entertainers and artists * Washboard Sam or Robert Brown (1910–1966), American musician and singer * Robert W. Brown (1917–2009), American printmaker ...

. It registered in 1889, by which time it had a membership of about 2,000 workers. In 1894, it was a founder constituent of the Scottish Miners' Federation, and it played a leading role in that year's strike of miners in Scotland. Other major strikes took place in 1912 and 1921. In 1945, the association was merged with other unions to form the Stirling and Lothians Area of the National Union of Mineworkers.C. P. Snodgrass, ''The county of East Lothian'', p.162

General Secretaries

:1890:

:1917: Joseph Young :1919:

Andrew Clarke Andrew Clarke may refer to: * Andrew Clarke (British Army officer, born 1793) (1793–1847), Governor of Western Australia *Sir Andrew Clarke (British Army officer, born 1824) (1824–1902), Governor of the Straits Settlements, son of the above *An ...

:1940: Alexander Cameron

Presidents

:1889: William Shaw :1900: George Young :1912:

:1918: James Ormiston

References

{{National Union of Mineworkers (UK) Mining trade unions National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain) 1886 establishments in Scotland Mining in Scotland Defunct trade unions of Scotland Trade unions established in 1886