In the 20th century, miners fought for the right to earn a living wage. Strikes were used to get their voices heard, but were not always successful.
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The Tonypandy Riots, 1910-1911, saw miners involved in a battle over wages with the Cambrian Combine Collieries. The strike was defeated but the struggle established the demand for a minimum wage in 1912.
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In 1926, the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain spoke out against proposals to reduce wages and extend the working day.
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A national strike was called in May 1926 in support of the miners. After 9 days, the general strike collapsed but the miners continued their dispute. The strike ended in defeat for the miners who returned to work in December 1926 with a severe reduction in wages.