The National Justice for Mineworkers
Campaign originally was launched from a rally at the 1985
Labour Party conference following the adoption there and at the Trades
Union Congress (TUC) conference of a resolution in support of sacked miners.
The campaign held its first conference under its new name (it was formerly known as the Miners Amnesty
Campaign) on January 25 in Sheffield,
Yorkshire when over 250 people from every coalfield the NUM's National
Solidarity Fund
To publicise the Justice for
Mineworkers' Bill.
To call on the TUC and Labour
Party to refuse all recognition or dealings with the breakaway Union of Democratic Mineworkers.
The campaign is officially recognised by the NUM.
Over 500 miners remain sacked following the strike and 21 are still in prison. A great deal remains to be done in campaigning for their release possible send delegations to the national march and rally in London on March 2, two years since the great strike started, one year since it ended.
Since the end of the strike more than thirty pits have been closed and 15,000 jobs have been lost as the
Board have driven through their attempt to run down the industry and destroy the national
This project recently received a blow when the 2,200-strong workof the Leicestershire voted not to join the scab Union of Democratic Mineworkers', this despite the fact that all but thirty of the Leicestershire miners worked during the strike.
A year after their strike ended, the miners are still carrying on their fight. The labour movement nationally and internationally owe it to them to attended Britain. Also in attendance national officials of the Union of Mineworkers (NUM), representatives of the national committee Miners in gaol
Against Pit (WAPC) and representatives from the of Labour Party Members of Parliament (MPs).
The Campaign have drafted a Justice for Mineworkers Bill which will be presented to parliament on February 27 as a way of putting pressure on the Labour Party and trade unions to commit a future government to justice for the miners. The presentation of the bill will coincide with a lobby of
The aims of the campaign are stated as follows;
1. Support for the NUM resolutions to the 1985 TUC and Labour Party conferences.
To raise support for the sackeu and imprisoned miners and to raise
International Viewpoint 10 February 1986 and reinstatement and also in proviWILLIAM SMITH: Whittle - 2½year sentence from February 1985. E44975, Durham Jail, Old Elvet, Durham DH13HU. JOHN MATTERSON: Murton -Two years and three months youth custody from December 1985. JOHN HEMINGWAY: One year and three months from JOHN ROBSON:
three months from ROBERT HOWE: 22, 21 months ANTHONY RUTHERFORD: 24, JOHN ROBINSON: 21,18 months jail GARY BLACKMORE: 19, 2 years youth custody. ANTHONY HOWE: 19, two years youth custody. WILLIAM BELL: 20, 18 months youth custody. MARTIN HODGSON: Wakefield - Three-year sentence from November 1985. Armley Jail, Leeds. NIGEL HODGSON: Wakefield - Three-year sentence from November 1985. Armley Jail, Leeds. PAUL WRIGHT: Saville - 18. month sentence. G76424 Kirkham Jail, Freckleton Road, Preston Lanes. CLIVE THOMPSON: Frikley back them in this campaign. Three-year sentence from April 1985. G79348, Acklington Jail, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 9XF. Not miners but sentenced in connection with the miners strike: DA VID TEASDALE: Student -Nine-month sentence from April 1985. HMYCC, York Road, Wetherby, West Yorks LS22 5ED. PAUL BROTHERWELL: 12-month sentence. DAVID GAUNT: Shirebrook -2½-year sentence from December 1984. E71037, A Wing, Millers Park Youth Custody Centre. Doddington Road, Wellingborough. TERRY FRENCH: Betteshanger -Five-year sentence from January 1985. B73383, Weald Wing, Maidstone jail, Kent CHRIS TAZEY: Betteshanger -Three-year sentence from January 1985. A29398 Youth Detention Centre, Springfield Road, Chelmsford. DEAN HANCOCK: Oakdale - Eight-year sentence. Gartree maximum security prison, nr Market Harborough, Leicester. RUSSELL SHANKLAND: Taff Merthyr - Eight-year sentence. Gartree maximum security prison, Leicester.
23