The 1984 miners strike was a last attempt by the mining unions to stop mining closures and the loss of jobs. Rowling continues to write the cormoran strike series under the name of robert galbraith to maintain the distinction from her other writing. Was ian gilmour right to argue that the governments handling of the 19845 miners strike was brilliant. In 19845, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlon. The silkworm 2014, career of evil 2015 and lethal white 2018. Jan 11, 2007 notes on the miners strike, 19841985 notes on the strike of uk mine workers against closures and to save their union, the num. In a book published by the national coal mining museum for england, david john douglass writes that scargills responsibility for the 1984 85 strike is often exaggerated. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. That is the legacy of the nums strike of 198485, a truly historic fight i have always said that the greatest victory in the strike was the struggle itself, a. With the publication of this bestselling book a decade later, the full irony of that accusation became clear. Mick mcgahey, vicepresident of the national union of mineworkers for years until his retirement in 1987 at the age of 62, was probably the last of. Many miners were involved in picketing and protesting including miners from 28 pits in the south wales coalfield. Notes on the miners strike, 19841985 notes on the strike of uk mine workers against closures and to save their union, the num.
The 1972 uk miners strike was a major dispute over pay between the national union of mineworkers num and the conservative edward heath government of the united kingdom. Johannesburg eskom does not expect the national union of mineworkers nums strike in the coal sector to have an immediate effect on its coal supplies, but prolonged industrial action will deplete the power utilitys stockpiles. As such it is a highly individualised account of picket encounters with police officers and delivery drivers, of fractious exchanges with lodge officials, court. The author, seumas milne, was a columnist on the guardian when he wrote this book and its 400 pages are a masterpiece of investigative journalism. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much. However, during the 19845 miners strike both sides entered the fray unwilling to back down.
Veteran of the 1984 miners strike became a labour mp. The lesson of the 1984 miners strike for the working class today is that all unions, with their rule books, their bureaucracy, sectional and corporatist set ups, and relations with the labour party, are part of the state and work against the selforganisation and extension of struggles under the control of workers themselves. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num. During much of 1984, britain was hit by some of the worst industrial action the country has ever seen, as the national union of mineworkers downed tools and upped pickets to resist planned cuts to. Gascoyne, a forceful 59yearold exfaceworker who swears a lot, was the branch secretary of the national union of mineworkers throughout the strike of 1984 85 and until the pit closed. The miners strike lasted a year and was one of the longest and possibly most damaging industrial disputes ever seen in britain. On 3 march 1985, the nums executive narrowly voted for a return to work. In march 1984 more than 187,000 miners came out on strike when the national coal board. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. The article contains interesting information about the strike, its background, the aftermath and its importance to all workers in britain. On 12th march 1984, arthur scargill, president of the national union of mineworkers num, called a national strike against the pit closures. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social club, founded in 1920.
Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike the enemy within. Apr 01, 2012 in this interview, he talks about the 19841985 miners strike and about the books, if spirit alone won battles. In the book settling scores, nicholas jones, then the bbcs. Set for release in september, culture clash comedy pride tells the true story of lesbian and gay activists who supported workers during. The miners strike of 19841985 was one of the most bitter industrial disputes. Written 23 years ago and with a new preface, the enemy within is an absolutely essential expose of the role of the intelligence services during the year long 1984 85 miners strike. Union stalwart and veteran of the 1984 miners strike who became a longserving labour mp. In his new chapter hywel explores the links between the welsh miners associations and the lesbian and gays support the miners group, and how this alliance came out of the leftwing politics of the 1980s. The strike began on 9 january 1972 and ended on 28 february 1972, when the miners returned to. This article focuses on one support group in the capital, lesbians and gays support the miners lgsm, which has received little historical analysis. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The 198485 miners strike after a period of relative stability in the second world war and the early postwar period, the british coal industry nationalised in 1947 underwent a massive contraction from 700,000 employed in 1957 to 300,000 by 1970, as alternative fuels were used to produce energy. On the 12th march 1984, arthur scargill, president of the num, called a national strike against the pit closures. The diary of john lowe wharncliffe books, 2011 by jonathan symcox and.
That is the legacy of the num s strike of 1984 85, a truly historic fight i have always said that the greatest victory in the strike was the struggle itself, a struggle that inspired millions. But it was not the national union of mineworkers that was out to subvert liberty. In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 19845 was the longest national strike in british history. Uk miners strike 198485 news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2018. Miners strike 1984 international communist current. Mr justice nicholls stopped short of ordering the num to ballot its membership, but the men who brought the case say they will return to work on monday. Loss without limit is a great read for anyone with a serious interest in the topic.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Mar 12, 2009 that is the legacy of the nums strike of 198485, a truly historic fight i have always said that the greatest victory in the strike was the struggle itself, a struggle that inspired millions. Lawrence daly, general secretary of the num, forecast that coal stocks would. In the context of the nums decision to seek a merger, this article examines the financial impact of the 198485 strike. Apr 05, 2014 the conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged. The miners strike of 198485 will always be remembered in british working. National union of mineworkers great britain wikipedia. And guardian journalist seumas milnes 1994 book the enemy within.
Set for release in september, culture clash comedy pride tells the true story of lesbian and gay activists who supported workers during the 1984 national union of minerworkers num strike. The film pride has reignited interest in the struggles of the miners in the south wales valleys in the strike of 19845. Sources for the study of the miners strike 1984 1985. In 1984 i spent 12 months photographing the miners strike in the uk. 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. Support sacked miners 1984 85 trade union enamel pin badge num.
He cut his political teeth against the demise of the mining industry in. This was to be the first of 20 pit closures with the loss of 20,000 jobs. May 09, 2010 ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers. New documents reveal true extent of miners cooperation with. Since its original publication in 1972, no book has done as much as jeremy brechers strike. Mick mcgahey, vicepresident of the national union of mineworkers for years until his retirement in 1987 at the age of 62, was probably the last of the genuine reds, but he never hid his. Twenty years ago on march 5, 1984 the national union of mineworkers num embarked upon the most important class struggle in britain since the general strike of 1926. Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike the enemy. Skillful negotiation is essential during any strike according to john richard hicks. Was the british governments handling of the 19845 miners.
Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle. Thatcher debated using military in 1984 miners strike the. Normanstrikes blog a retrospective diary of the 19845. Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 upi archives. International support for the miners strike 1984 85. There is a prevailing view that arthur scargill, the num national president, called the strike. Jan 04, 2014 london as striking miners challenged her grip on power in 1984, prime minister margaret thatcher secretly considered calling out the british military to transport vital supplies of food and. 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. Prolonged num strike will threaten eskom coal supplies fin24. National union of mineworkers say this will mean closing 20 pits and loss of 20,000 jobs.
In this classic account, seumas milne reveals the astonishing lengths to which her government and its intelligence machine were prepared to go. The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged. But num leader arthur scargill decreed that num regions could decide whether or not to strike on an. I am proud to say that i spent the whole year as a proud picket, and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the strike starting i thought people might be interested in the diary i kept for recording my memories of what i went through and how it changed my whole life. David edgar looks at the literature of the dispute and explores its legacy. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. Covering the years 1969 to 1995, it charts reactions to the pit closures programme of the late 1950s and 1960s and the development of the nums reputation as the union that could topple governments. Miners strike in south yorkshire and some scottish pits.
Num president arthur scargill addresses the press during the miners strike in 1984. The two arresting officers gave opposing accounts of my arrest yet i was found guilty as charged and fined. The strike was however technically illegal as arthur scargill had not held a ballot of num members. 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. In conducting the strike, its federal structure is shown to have provided the union leadership with flexibility. Madeline butterfield, a woman involved in the wapc whose book. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike. Set up in the dying days of the 198485 miners strike, the udm. 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.
Apr 15, 2015 was ian gilmour right to argue that the governments handling of the 19845 miners strike was brilliant. How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. You can buy a copy from wellred books online bookshop. Examines the financial impact of the strikes held in 19841985 in the mining industries on the national union of mineworkers num of great britain. John was a founder member of the communist party of great britain and took an active part in the 1926 general strike. Pride tells the true story of lgbt support for striking. Michael heseltine says of the governments war on the num. Across frontiers brings to life the fascinating story of the men and women who travelled overseas to speak to workers and raise support for the miners strike.
Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike books. A week after the cortonwood miners walked out in protest the national union of mineworkers declared that the various local disputes across the country were a national strike and in april 1984 at a special delegate conference at sheffield the num called on all of its members to come out on strike. In a book published by the national coal mining museum for england, david john douglass writes that scargills responsibility for the 198485 strike is often exaggerated. The 19845 miners strike and the spirit of solidarity.
The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 1984 85. His father, john mcgahey, worked in the mines at shotts, north lanarkshire when mick was born. Perhaps because of this, the family moved to cambuslang in search of work, and it was here that mick went to school mick started work at age 14 at the. For many num supporters and scargill loyalists, the udm will always be a. Jul 15, 2009 see key moments from the miners strike in south yorkshire, for a year from march 1984. But it has limited the capacity to recover afterwards and has consequences for merger prospects with other unions. Fiction or nonfiction, these books are about strikes, work slowdowns, lockouts and related phenomena. With the 198485 strike, a whole new scene developed. The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 198485. In 1984 5, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlon. After the 1984 85 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. Dec 02, 2010 initial locallyorganised strikes across the uk became a national num strike in march 1984.
By march 12th arthur scargill, leader of the num had declared the intention of. Jan 21, 2014 this article focuses on one support group in the capital, lesbians and gays support the miners lgsm, which has received little historical analysis. Jun 18, 2018 the lessons of the miners strike and its defeat are of great significance to the future of the workers movement, and deserve thorough study. Miners wages had not kept pace with those of other industrial workers since 1960. The lessons of the 198485 miners strike in defence of marxism. Examines the financial impact of the strikes held in 19841985 in the mining industries on the national. Twenty years after the miners strike of 198485 new class battles are today being prepared. Mar 10, 2009 1984 1 marchnational coal board ncb announces closure of cortonwood pit in yorkshire miners at the pit walk out6 marchscottish and yorkshire areas of the num make strike official12 marchhalf. The lessons of the miners strike and its defeat are of great significance to the future of the workers movement, and deserve thorough study. Loss without limit new edition by martin adeney, john lloyd isbn. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. How does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. Margaret thatcher branded arthur scargill and the other leaders of the 19845 miners strike. Buy collectable mining badges and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay.
The dispute started when the conservative government, led by margaret thatcher, announced the closure of cortonwood colliery in yorkshire. Vintage miners strike nur aslef num solidarity 1980s enamel pin. These works are then taken as a starting point for a wider discussion on the ways in which the miners support movement is represented and understood. The decision to strike was technically illegal, as there had been no national ballot of num members, even though the nottinghamshire and midlands coalfields for example, had called for a national ballot. For a year over 100,000 members of the national union of mineworkers, their families and supporters, in hu. The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago. This book is the second of two volumes examining the place of the national union of mineworkers in postwar british politics. Nearly 60 percent of the num voted to strike for a 47 percent pay rise. On a moonlit december night in 1984, i joined a group of num pickets who were.
National union of mineworkers president arthur scargill called the strike six months ago when the conservative government announced the closure of 20 uneconomic pits and the loss of 20,000 jobs. In this article i discuss three depictions of the strike, all of which focus on miners, activists and supporters of the strikeand in all of which lgsm plays a role, though of varying importance. This books authors obviously werent going to have access to all this material, and therefore some of its points have been superceded by more modern arguments. The miners strike by mark harvey overdrive rakuten. Union of mineworkers num, called a national strike against the pit closures. Margaret thatcher branded arthur scargill and the other leaders of the 1984 5 miners strike. This morning i played out my final part in the 1984 1985 miners strike when i appeared at edinburgh sheriffs court to answer my breach of the peace charge, outstanding since july. The strike only began to crumble when the ncb offered miners various pay incentives to return to work before christmas.