On Sunday 22nd September 1895, a mass meeting of miners took place outdoors at the Slag Road (which would eventually become Craig Street). The meeting was to consider miners wages and hours.
Nothing at all existed either side of the Slag Road during that time, not even at the corners of a busy Glasgow Road, with exception of the Congregational Church midway up the Slag Road, where it is today. At that time, the church sat isolated beside this track completely surrounded by empty fields. At the top of the Slag Road, at the junction with Auchinraith, near to Auchinraith Pit Rows, the road ran under the raised railway track and it is there, next to the miners homes, which is the presumed meeting place of this story. The Slag Road would become Craig Street at the turn of the 20th Century.
Mr Andra McAnulty presided and the meeting was addressed at great length by Mr Sharp, the miner’s agent. However, the meeting was not well attended, a handful of people turning up. It may be said that Mr Sharp was fairly disgruntled by the attendance, for as no resolution to wages or hours was to be found due to that poor attendance, he publicly announced his resignation no longer wishing to act for Blantyre miners.
However, sleeping on the matter, Mr Sharp turned up at a further meeting the following Thursday at the Democratic Hall, and this time, indoors the hall was filled. Mr Stirrat presided and this time Mr Sharp found a larger, more attentive audience. At the end of the meeting, better hours were agreed upon, where work life balance was improved by suggesting to work 5 days a week, and to make up for this, an improvement on wages would be asked for.
The improvement on miners conditions being agreed upon, Mr Sharp again stated his decision to resign with immediate effect. At the same meeting a committee was appointed to take condition to the Coalmasters. President would be Mr John Connaghan, Secretary William Runn and Treasurer Mr J Lively.
Pictured is the Congregational church during this era, the only building on the Slag Road.
