miners are in a majority to break away from the NUM. While it is doubtful that even a majority of the working miners support such break-aways, they pose a grave threat to the integrity of the NUM, since there have been persistent reports
The miners' strike enters its final phase
The struggle continues
The British miners' strike is entering its final phase. After 11 months on national strike against pit closures the possibility
Instead the miners' leaders demand is for an
However, under pressure from the Thatcher government, the coal employers are refusing negotiations.
crush the National Union of Mineworkers.
A complicated series of moves has begun allegedly designed to promote a negotiated settlement to the dispute.
for example agreeing to propose amendments to the National Coal Board's proposed agenda, rather than rejecting it outright, since it contains the principle of the Board's 'right to manage.' The union still got no answer and Scargill used that to show that the government is not interested in negotiating.
Steve ROBERTS
The challenge represented by the union was clear enough.
Ten years ago the miners had brought down the Conservative government of Edward Heath.
From the 1972 and 1974 strikes a new layer of militants emerged, dedicated to using the industrial strength of their union not only to defend their own jobs, but also to bring about more general social change in society. Of these militants Arthur Scargill was the most prominent, winning the post of national president by a 70 per cent majority three years ago.
The announcement of the closure of
20 pits and the loss of 20,000 jobs was the signal for the beginning of national of victory has faded. 'honourable settlement'. The British prime minister is aiming to
The NUM has made concessions benefits, start-up of replacement industries, etc.) incurred by closure.
If the union concedes the NCB's point, the present closure list could be extended to a further 75 pits with the loss of half the industry's workforce.
But the union is under heavy pressure from the back to work' movement, which has seen its numbers swell to a probable level of 60,000 out of 180,000 miners, back at work. The exact figures are very difficult to calculate since double counting by the NCB is common and miners who have returned to work have since rejoined the strike. Likewise, only in the areas where a majority of miners have gone back to work, like Nottingham and Leicester, are significant quantities of coal being mined.
that if the NCB can claim a majority of miners back at work, it will simply declare the strike over and start to negotiate with the scabs.
Such a development would repeat the experience of the miners after their defeat in the 1926 strike when the same area of the union, Nottingham, led a break-away to form the so-called "Spencer'
This is clearly an experience Thatcher would like to repeat. has the miners' union come to face such a desperate situation? In October of last year the NUM had just received the support of the TUC and the unconditional solidarity of the Labour Party conference.
Since then there have been sporadie actions, largely inspired by rank and file workers in solidarity with the miners such as the strike by railwayworkers on January 17, and the 'day of action' on February 11, organised by the local regions of the TUC. (See International Viewpoint, No 68, January 28, 1985.) Equally strong support has come from the rank and file of the Labour Party which has played a leading role in setting up the 400 plus solidarity committees which exist throughout the country. TUC and Labour Party leadership have tried to suffocate the strike
The role of the TUC and Labour Party leadership has been, however, to suffocate the strike: on the one hand providing sufficient financial support for the miners to hold out, but on the other, refusing the industrial action, particularly strike action on March 12, 1984.
The courage and determination of the miners and their families has made this the long est industrial dispute in Britain, drawing in widespread national and international
Declaration of the Fourth International support.
on the British miners' strike
Today, however, most striking miners
Militants of the Fourth International gathered at this Twelfth Congress salute the are pessimistic that their goal of a total long and determined struggle of the British miners and the women in the mining withdrawal of the pit closure plan can be communities against the closure of pits and against the attacks on workers' rights
This assessment is reflected in achieved.
the NUM leadership's demand for an
Every effort is being made by the militants and supporters of the Fourth Interhonourable settlement and for negotiations to begin 'without preconditions' national and their organisations in over fifty countries to explain the struggle of the
National Union of Mineworkers and their allies to workers and oppressed people
However, the National Coal Board (the employers in the nationalised industry)
are refusing negotiations until the NUM
We are proud to identify ourselves in solidarity with your struggle, which we has given a written undertaking that it know has inspired millions of working people throughout the world.
will respect the NCB's right to close down
We recognise the crucial part played by women in the mining communities, who uneconomic (that is, non-profitable) pits.
The Coal Board are well aware that
Your determination has given new confidence to working people in many coun such an undertaking would amount to a tries to continue and step up their own battles against oppression. Your struggle in itself is already a great victory for the oppressed.
complete surrender by the NUM.
The union has opposed such closures on the
We are committed to continue our efforts to mobilise the labour movement in basis that the profitability of the industry has to be assessed as a whole and that state subsidies should be used to keep such pits open.
Such subsidies would be less than the social costs (unemployment
International Viewpoint
25 February 1985
More worrying though is the growing tendency of the areas in which working led by the Thatcher government. throughout the world. have provided vital support and inspiration. political and material solidarity with you.
in the power stations, which could have brought cuts in electricity supply and the
Victory to the miners!
Down with the Tory government!
Workers of the world unite
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BRITAIN
ical advances of the left must be its or- been hoping for, but the left in Britain certain victory of the strike.
The Labour leadership too has played a hypocritical role, 'supporting' the miners' demands, but at the same time condemning the methods by which the miners have attempted to make their strike effective through picketing.