South Wales Miners’ Federation

The South Wales Miners' Federation was a British union founded in 1898. It emerged during a period of industrial unrest and political militancy in the coal-mining regions of South Wales. The union's formation was part of a broader trend of miners seeking to combine their efforts for better working conditions and fairer pay.

Despite fierce resistance from coal owners, who also formed powerful combines, the miners achieved significant victories, including the establishment of an 8-hour workday and a minimum wage. Within the federation, a more radical approach known as "the Miners' Next Step" advocated for industrial unionism with syndicalist tendencies. While this influence was strong in some areas, it did not fully permeate the entire coal industry. The federation's efforts contributed to the rise of the Labour Party in South Wales, which gained political influence at both local and national levels.12