Abstract the united kingdoms national union of mineworkers staged a historic strike in 1984, sent over the edge by conservative prime minister margaret thatchers antilabor policies and statements. National union of mineworkers south africa wikimili. In seeking in seeking to understand the conflict over the failure to hold a national ballot to validate this yearlong. Led by arthur scargill and the national union of mineworkers, the strike by the men who had spent most of their lives working down the pits at collieries across britain began in 1984 and ended on march 3, 1985. It was founded in 1982 as a black mine workers union by cyril ramaphosa and grew rapidly, winning bargaining recognition from the chamber of mines in 1983 51. The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 1984 85. Untold story of international help in 198485 miners strike. Margaret thatcher branded arthur scargill and the other leaders of the 19845 miners strike the enemy within. In a foreword to the book, rick sumner, national convenor of justice for mineworkers, acknowledges the part played by the 198485 strike in virtually creating a new badge culture in the num, building on a relatively small tradition of national and area badges in previous years. May 19, 2014 in addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coal miners strike of 1984 5 was the longest national strike in british history. In 1984, when the welfare clinics were up and running, the benefit takeup rate was nearly 80%. In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 19845 was the longest national strike in british history. Derbyshire striking miners union leader vindicated. Billy elliot the musical live the coal miners strike of.
The strike was led by national union of mineworkers, the num, led by arthur scargill, and the action partially stopped coal mining across the country between 1984 and 1985. National union of mineworkers sequestration hansard, 19 december 1984. The num took part in three national strikes in 1972, 1974 and 198485. Derbyshire striking miners union leader vindicated after. Apr 19, 2011 this paper explores the democratic tensions within the national union of mineworkers that split the union during the 198485 strike over mine closures. Leaflet produced by the labour party young members section, 1984 labour party. The miners strike that ended an era adam smith institute.
For the best chance of winning, increase your maximum bid. But it was not the national union of mineworkers that was out to subvert liberty. Three deaths resulted from events related to the strike. At the heart of the conflict was the yorkshire region, where even at the end in march 1985, 83 per cent of 56,000 miners were still out on strike. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union.
Its the summer of 1984, margaret thatcher is in power and the national union of mineworkers is on strike, prompting a londonbased group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers families. The miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. The national union of mineworkers was founded in 1982. A 1984 miners strike plate, issued by the kent area national union of mineworkers, together with. He was president of the national union of mineworkers num from 1982 to 2002. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num. Mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners wcml. Poster produced by the kent area of the national union of mineworkers, 1984.
The num members put on a brave face, many marching back behind colliery brass bands, but t. Those strikes took place during the conservative party government of 19701974, led by prime minister edward heath. The strike by the national union of mineworkers num was led by arthur scargill, although some num members considered it to be unconstitutional and did not observe it. The national union of mineworkers num was once the most powerful in the uk, boasting around 500,000 members. How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. The miners strike of 19841985 national museum wales. Read on line start reading on line via the contents page here. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. The num took part in three national miners strikes in 1972, 1974 and 198485. The bbc has referred to the strike as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. Media in category national union of mineworkers the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. It was founded in 1982 as a black mine workers union by cyril ramaphosa and grew rapidly, winning bargaining recognition from the chamber of mines in 1983 51 num campaigned successfully in the 1980s for the end of the. On march 3rd, 1985, the national union of mineworkers, led by arthurs scargill, voted to return to work after a yearlong strike, the longest and most bitter strike, and one that finished without an agreement.
Mi5 briefed the prime minister during the miners strike in 1984 that the soviet union was trying to get funds to the national union of mineworkers alan travis, home affairs editor. The uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry. With the 198485 strike, a whole new scene developed. Thirty years ago today a strike described as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history came to an end. In response, the national union of mineworkers, led by socialist arthur scargill, declared a strike, which began march 12, 1984, and didnt conclude until march 3, 1985. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much. The old district unions became administrative areas of the num with which they had a new legal and financial relationship. A 1984 miners strike plate, issued by the kent area. Mineworkers that split the union during the 1984 85 strike over mine closures. Opposition to the strike was led by the conservative government of prime minister margaret thatcher, who wanted to. The miners federation of great britain mfgb formed in 1889 and subsequently became the national union of mineworkers num in 1944 and is still a functioning organisation today. Jul 29, 2015 a 1984 miners strike plate, issued by the kent area national union of mineworkers, together with. Gascoyne, a forceful 59yearold exfaceworker who swears a lot, was the branch secretary of the national union of mineworkers throughout the strike of 198485 and until the pit closed.
The miners strike of 1984 is potentially the miners strike of 1985, as the governments indifference to the crisis in the coal industry in now apparent to everyone in the country ordinary people as well as politicians. Miners across yorkshire began strike action and on 12 march, a national strike was declared by the num, but no official vote was held. On the death of ian macgregor chair of the national coal board during the 1984 5 strike, mcgahey said, its no loss to people of my ilk. Ian macgregor, chairman of the national coal board, 1983. National union of mineworkers sequestration hansard, 19. After successful strikes in 1972 and 1974 which prevented pit closures, calls were made for strikes in the early 1980s, eventually leading to the strike of 19841985. National union of mineworkers, south celynen lodge, newbridge. The official yorkshire national union of mineworkers num area photographer in 198485 was the late martin jenkinson and this book of his photographs some never previously seen before serves. Thirty years ago, margaret thatcher branded striking miners the. Wcml mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners. The national wealth of our country, the heritage of all south africans shall be restored to the people. The miners strike of the 1980s is often depicted as a bitter clash. Assault, capacity to carry out threats immediately, harassment.
Originally, a national strike required a two thirds majority. National union of mineworkers south africa wikipedia. The closure of kellingley colliery in 2015, the last major deep mine in the uk, brought to an end deep coal mining on an industrial scale in the uk. Led by arthur scargill and the national union of mineworkers, the strike by the men who had spent most of their lives working down the pits at collieries across britain began in 1984 and ended on march 3. During a set of strikes organised by the national union of miners num the defendant, the claimant, who was a miner, wanted to. During a set of strikes organised by the national union of miners num the defendant, the claimant, who was a miner, wanted to continue working in the mines instead of going on strike. The national union of mineworkers also went on strike in 1972 and 1974.
National union of mineworkers politics and insights. Before the strike 27 september 1983 num submits annual pay claim. Section one the social and political background to the strike. Mar 03, 2019 on march 3rd, 1985, the national union of mineworkers, led by arthurs scargill, voted to return to work after a yearlong strike, the longest and most bitter strike, and one that finished without an agreement. Initially rebuffed by the union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in wales and sets off to make their donation in person.
A 1984 miners strike plate, issued by the kent area national. The national union of mineworkers strike and gay rights. The 1984 miners strike was the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social club, founded in 1920. The strike, ultimately unsuccessful, lasted a year and was one of the most. The uk miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action affecting the uk coal industry. By the end of the strike, eleven different lgsm groups had emerged throughout the uk, with the london group alone raising. The national union of mineworkers says eskom needs to communicate their intentions effectively. The events leading to the overtime ban in november 1983 and the subsequent miners strike for jobs in 198485. The miners federation of great britain formed in 1889 became the national union of mineworkers in 1944 and is still a functioning organisation today. Polmaise miners on a march in london, 19 april 1984. With the publication of seumas milnes bestselling book a decade later, the full irony of that accusation became clear.
National union of mineworkers great britain wikipedia. Therefore, in march 1984, when the ncb announced its plans to close cortonwood colliery in south yorkshire and polmaise colliery near alloa, local strikes were called across the country. The title of a recent british book on the 19845 is civil war. For a year over 100,000 members of the national union of mineworkers, their families and supporters, in hundreds of communities, battled to prevent the decimation of the coal industry on which their livelihoods and communities depended. Latest and breaking news on national union of mineworkers.
This paper explores the democratic tensions within the national union of mineworkers that split the union during the 198485 strike over mine closures. In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coal miners strike of 19845 was the longest national strike in british history. National union of mineworkers lancashire area trust fund. Macgregor was a vicious, antitrades unionist, antiworking class person, recruited by the tory government quite deliberately for the purpose of destroying trade unionism in the mining industry. With the publication of this bestselling book a decade later, the full irony of that accusation became clear. Such was the divisive nature of so much of the news reporting of the 198485 miners strike and media concentration on picket line violence that there was often little coverage of the remarkable solidarity shown by the international trade union movement. The 1984 85 miners strike divided communities and families and nowhere more than in nottinghamshire. Cabinet papers reveal secret coal pits closure plan. Feb 10, 2009 in a foreword to the book, rick sumner, national convenor of justice for mineworkers, acknowledges the part played by the 198485 strike in virtually creating a new badge culture in the num, building on a relatively small tradition of national and area badges in previous years. You need to be registered and approved to bid at this auction. A decade after the strike, i called the book i wrote about that secret war. The miners strike 198485 police, protests and public. Aug 20, 2017 the strike was led by national union of mineworkers, the num, led by arthur scargill, and the action partially stopped coal mining across the country between 1984 and 1985. National union of mineworkers south africa wikimili, the.
In her book queen coal triona holden tells how the women in. But with the decline of britains once strong mining industry especially after the bitter 1984 miners strike the union saw its membership dwindle. We are witnessing, and bitterly experiencing, probably the longest major strike in britain this century. Nov 24, 2014 national union of mineworkers lancashire area trust fund. Joining the num at the age of nineteen in 1957, he became one of its leading activists in the late 1960s. National union of mineworkers ensuring that its members.
Its birth was facilitated by comrades cyril ramaphosa who rose to be its first general secretary, james motlatsi who turned to be its first president, and elijah barayi who became its vice president and later the president of cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. The nottinghamshire miners, the union of democratic mineworkers and the 198485 miners strike. During the miners strike, thatchers secret state was the real enemy. Solidarity and the miners strike 198485 london metropolitan. After successful strikes in 1972 and 1974 which prevented pit closures, calls were made for strikes in the early 1980s, eventually leading to the strike of 1984 1985. Ncb chairman in 1983, had been to cut 75,000 jobs over three years. In january 1945, the miners federation of great britain became the national union of mineworkers. Arthur scargill born 11 january 1938 is a british trade unionist.
Eager to stand in solidarity with their putupon brethren, london gay rights. A crossparty agreement the plan for coal appeared to secure the future of mining in britain, two years after the february 1972 miners strike, which had crippled the countrys power. The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 198485. Jul 17, 2015 margaret thatcher branded arthur scargill and the other leaders of the 19845 miners strike the enemy within. After the 1984 85 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. It was founded in 1982 as a black mine workers union by cyril ramaphosa and grew rapidly, winning bargaining recognition from the chamber of mines in 1983. Jan 02, 2014 mi5 briefed the prime minister during the miners strike in 1984 that the soviet union was trying to get funds to the national union of mineworkers alan travis, home affairs editor. Enamel badges of the national union of mineworkers trade. National union of mineworkers, south celynen lodge. The national union of mineworkers, for so long the shock troops of the. The national union of mineworkers num is a trade union in south africa. The national union of mineworkers num is a trade union for coal miners in great britain, formed in 1945 from the miners federation of great britain mfgb. Apr 28, 2015 the long shadow of the british miners strike april 28, 2015 paul dean remembers the struggle he supported 30 years agothe great british miners strike of 198485, whose story is retold in a. With a membership of 300,000 it is the largest affiliate of the congress of south african trade unions.
An approach to the concept of place, as illustrated by the british national union of mineworkers strike, 198485 article in antipode 232. Objecting to stage 3, the national union of mineworkers then ordered further. Opposition to the strike was led by the british government of prime minister margaret thatcher, who called scargill the. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board, a government agency.
But it was not the national union of mineworkers num that was out to subvert liberty. Thirty years later questions still haunt many of those who took part. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal. Its influence was destroyed by the failure of the 198485 strike and by the closing of most of britains coal mines. Historical drama details gay activists role in the 1984 national union of mineworkers strike in great britain. The miners strike by mark harvey overdrive rakuten.
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