Miners' Strike Spreads

3,500 In Protest About Overman

About 3,500 South Shields miners are now idle because of grievances against one overman.

Yesterday 2,000 men employed at the Harton and Westoe pit came out in support of the Whitburn Colliery men, who went on strike nine days ago because of the alleged "tyrannical" attitude of one of their overmen.

Only one pit in the South Shields group of the National Coal Board is still at work. This is Boldon Colliery. After a meeting of the local federation board of the miners' union last night, when the spread of the strike was announced, it was stated that discussions on support for the dispute would take place with the Boldon miners' lodge.

The Durham area of the National Union of Mineworkers describes the strike as unofficial and has appealed to the Whitburn men to return to work, when an inquiry would be made into their grievances. The Whitburn men say that they will not return until the overman concerned has been suspended.