Questions on Durham Lockout

Subject: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Rog Peek
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 09:09 AM

These may very well have been asked before, but I couldn't find.

In the lyrics of the Durham Lockout by Tommy Armstrong, what is 'marra', and what does the 'ten' and 'thirteen percent' refer to?

Thanks

Rog

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 09:29 AM

Marra is friend or workmate.

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Newport Boy
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 09:56 AM

In outline, the miners were 'offered' a pay reduction of 10%, which they refused. The pits were closed and after 3 months on strike the miners caved in. At which point the owners 'raised' their 'offer' to a reduction of 13.5%.

Phil

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Rog Peek
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 10:02 AM

Many thanks both.

Rog

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 10:48 AM

http://cbladey.com/sangbeuk.html

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Roughyed
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 11:36 PM

I always understood that the owners had demanded a 13.5% pay cut and had locked the miners out until they agreed it. The miners tried to negotiate them down with an offer of only a 10% cut and stuck it out when the offer was refused and the owners insisted on the full amount. I seem to remember reading that they were in fact defeated and had to return to work on the owners terms but can't for the life of me remember where I read it.

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 01:43 AM

'Marra' is actually the local pronunciation of 'marrow', a vegetable, our name for zucchini. Why or how the name of this vegetable came to be used to mean 'mate' or 'partner' in NE England I have been unable thus far to ascertain. Eric Partridge has no entry on it in his Dict of Slang & Unconventional English, and Chambers Dict gives it as a separate entry, 'origin unknown'. Anyone from Tyneside/Wearside [or elsewhere] happen to know?

~M~

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 03:28 AM

The way I understood it the workmates "were as alike as two marrows";
that's how they explained it when I was at school.

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 03:31 AM

From 'Pit Talk in County Durham: a glossary of miners talk together with memories of Wardley Colliery. Pit Songs and Pilking' by Dave Douglas; History Workshop Pamphlets, No 10, 1973
Jim Caroll

MARRA   This a Geordie expression which means mate. A per¬son's marra is the fellow who he is cavilled with, who he works with. In Yorkshire although marra has drifted down with the exiled Geordies, 'serry' will be the term used when speaking to one's mate. Under the butty system the chargeman had 'gobbers' working under him, the term 'gobber' also takes the place of marra. In some parts of Durham, particularly round Penshaw Monument way, the term 'cher' is used for 'marra': 'pass shul' cher' - pass the shovel, mate. Around Seaham 'sa' is used ('does tha see sa').

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 07:07 AM

Thanks both ~~ esp Dave. Could be, but that sounds it could be a sort of post hoc rationalisation, bit of fakelore derivation, to me. No offence ~ just a gut feeling, really. And your final clause makes you sound a bit dubious about it also!

~M~

Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 10:28 AM

absolutely a term for working team mate in coal mining where miners were set to work in pairs

Conrad