Mechanisation and the miner : work, safety and labour relations in the Scottish coal industry, c. 1890-1939
The aim of this research is to fill the gap in the current historiography of the labour process and industrial relations on the impact of new technology on the work process. Invariably, when considering mechanisation in the coal industry, the existing literature usually glosses over the topic referring to the numbers of machines in use and the percentage of output produced. Little in-depth research has been undertaken into the way these new processes changed the work of the miner, the effect on safety undergroundand the effects that these innovations had on labour relations in the industry. The thesis probes the way mechanisation affected the work of the miner. Consideration is given to deskilling, loss of control at the point of production, intensification of the work process and employment. The findings show that although some mineworkers increased their skills the vast majority experienced a downgrading in skill. Employers used new technology to erode the control miners had in the mines. Mechanisation led to an intensification of work effort. Mechanisation proved a doubled-edged sword for employment opportunities. Employment increased in the earlier period, but the move to mechanical conveying in the inter-war
Renfrew, Alexander
Scotland; Mining
Mechanisation and the miner : work, safety and labour relations in the Scottish coal industry, c. 1890-1939. The aim of this research is to fill the gap in the current historiography of the labour process and industrial relations on the impact of new technology on the work process. Invariably, when considering mechanisation in the coal industry, the existing literature usually glosses over the topic referring to the numbers of machines in use and the percentage of output produced. Little in-depth research has been undertaken into the way these new processes changed the work of the miner, the effect on safety undergroundand the effects that these innovations had on labour relations in the industry. The thesis probes the way mechanisation affected the work of the miner. Consideration is given to deskilling, loss of control at the point of production, intensification of the work process and employment. The findings show that although some mineworkers increased their skills the vast majority experienced a downgrading in skill. Employers used new technology to erode the control miners had in the mines. Mechanisation led to an intensification of work effort. Mechanisation proved a doubled-edged sword for employment opportunities. Employment increased in the earlier period, but the move to mechanical conveying in the inter-war
mechanisation miner work safety labour_relation scottish coal_industry aim_fill gap current historiography labour process industrial_relation impact new_technology work process invariably consider mechanisation coal_industry exist_literature usually gloss topic refer number machine use percentage output produce little depth undertaken way new process_change work miner effect safety effect innovation labour_relation industry probe way mechanisation affect work miner consideration_give loss control point production intensification work process employment finding_show although increase skill vast_majority experience skill use new_technology erode control miner mine mechanisation lead intensification work effort mechanisation prove edged_sword employment opportunity employment increase early_period move mechanical convey inter_war