What is a coal hewer ? (General)

by maurice , Friday, March 13, 2009, 02:37 (5828 days ago) @ norman

I agree with you Norman.My father was variously described as a coal hewer,shotfirer,coalcutter, and deputy.A coal hewer was a coalface worker and in the early days worked on the butty system.The leading man of a team would negotiate with the manager/owner for a price for removing coal and spoil and would be paid by the owners,he would then pay out his team based on the value of each of his team to the team.This system was often abused.I once went with my father to collect his pay and was amazed when having received a large envelope containing money,he then met his team [about 5] and then squatting on their haunches he proceded to pay out each man.Having done this he asked them if they were satisfied with their pay,it seemed they were all happy,they then went on to discuss future work they were being asked to do and what Dad should negotiate for them.In later years my father became a shotfirer and then coalcutter using the more modern ways of extracting coal.To become a Deputy he had to have both of these skills and pass an exam to get his "papers",one other skill he had to pass was ambulance exams on an annual basis.
Hope this clarify some of the terminology used in the mines.
Maurice