Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coaltrimmers' Union . . .

In 1897, the union became affiliated with the Cardiff Trades Council and in the same year, the TUC (Trades Union Congress). At the end of 1908 the Union had 1,360 members who paid a 6d (2.5p) per week ordinary regular contribution. [485] In 1914 there were 2,050 members but by end of WWI in 1918, its membership was reduced by the loss of men killed at war to 1,899. This remained fairly constant until 1924 when there were 1,832 men but decline in the coal trade reduced membership to 1,692 by 1926. The association transferred its engagements to the Transport and General Workers Union in 1967, alas, by 1970, the Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coaltrimmers Union, was consigned to the history books.

Under the National Insurance Act, 1911 a list of Societies Approved by the National Health Insurance Joint Committee and the National Health Insurance Commissioners was presented to Parliament in June 1912. The Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers and Tippers' Union is listed. They only admit men as members to the Union and Mr. Samuel Fisher was their General Secretary with the head office address at 39, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff. [297] The supplement to the London Gazette of 3rd June 1935 lists Joshua Thomas Clatworthy, Esq., J.P., Secretary, Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers' Union. [100]

Of concern to the union officials in the late 1920's was the effect of coal dust upon its members; the deaths of 426 men over a period of only 16 years, a ratio of about one in four of its entire membership 'invited' medical investigation!

◊ Effects of the long-term inhalation of coal dust:

'By 1920, simple anthracosis due to the inhalation of coal dust had ceased to be regarded as a serious condition and the whole emphasis, as far as occupational disease of the lungs was concerned, was placed on free silica and silicosis. Despite the almost complete concentration of doctors on silica dust, the possible deleterious effects of coal dust had not escaped the attention of others. Thus the secretary of the Coal Trimmers' Union invited Collis and Gilchrist (1928) to analyse the 426 deaths which had occurred among Cardiff, Penarth, and Barry coal trimmers between 1910 and 1926. (Coal trimmers are dock workers who fill coal into ships' bunkers and cargo holds.)