[1] In 1872, Toyn was a founder of the Cleveland Miners' Association, serving as a delegate from his mine, then in 1875 he became the union's president.
As agent, he was the leading figure in setting up a conciliation board to resolve disputes in the industry, which he credited with preventing any strikes during his time in office.
However, in 1892, he persuaded the union to leave the MNU and instead affiliated to the rival Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB).
This federation was campaigning for an eight-hour maximum working day, an issue which Toyn strongly supported.
[1] Toyn was appointed as a magistrate in 1906, and was also prominent in the local co-operative movement and as a Primitive Methodist lay preacher.