Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. In britain, trade unions had traditionally launched strikes for claims on wage. In 1984, with the uk miners strike at its peak, the young german photography student michael kerstgens decided to travel to britain and document the dispute. But there were in fact two other new developments in 19845. 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 num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 1984 85. The media portrayed these women as the supportive wives and daughters of miners, dutifully performing a domestic role that enabled their men to maintain the strike. An approach to the concept of place, as illustrated by the british national union of mineworkers strike, 198485 article in antipode 23 2. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike. 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. In november 1984, some members including a number of the plaintiffs, returned. Pickets, police and politics the miners strike of 19841985. Five years into her stride as prime minister, margaret thatcher was not about to let the same thing happen to her.
Uk miners strike 1984 85 the uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry. Opposition to the strike was led by the british government of prime minister margaret thatcher, who called scargill the. 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. But the kindling for the strike was laid long before the national coal board and the national union of mineworkers jointly lit the match that spring. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social. The thatcher government responded with measures that were not only tough but frequently brutal and often illegal. There is a prevailing view that arthur scargill, the num national president, called the strike. The national union of scottish mineworkers nusw is a trade union in scotland, founded in 1894 as the scottish miners federation. Assault, capacity to carry out threats immediately, harassment.
Uk miners strike 198485 wikipedia republished wiki 2. In the great miners strikes of 1972 and 1974, miners had picketed coke depots and power stations. Thirty years later two questions still haunt many of those who took part. Lesbians and gays support the miners lgsm was an alliance of lesbians and gay men who supported national union of mineworkers during the yearlong strike of 19841985. In april 1984, nacods voted to strike but was short of the two thirds majority that their constitution required. 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. On march 9th 1984 the south wales area of the num passed a resolution to support the national union in strike action and to stop work on 12th march. Ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers. Section one the social and political background to the strike. International support for the miners strike 198485. Thirty years ago today a strike described as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history came to an end. The catalyst for strike action was the pit closure programme announced by the national coal board ncb chairman ian macgregor in march 1984. Video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. At the start of the uk miners strike 198485 on 6 march 1984, following a dispute at cortonwood, nottinghamshires coal mining industry was second only to that of yorkshire, with 32,000 miners.
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. 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. At the start of the uk miners strike 198485 on 6 march 1984. In 1984 the uks national union of mineworkers began a nationwide strike in protest at planned coal mine closures around the country. The events leading to the overtime ban in november 1983 and the subsequent miners strike for jobs in 198485. 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. Two separate groups of mineworkers from yorkshire and derbyshire went to court in an attempt to have the dispute declared illegal. The uk miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action affecting the uk coal industry. The miners strike that began in march 1984 is a subject which to this day inspires strong feelings in those who were. 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. One of literatures greatest strengths is its ability to take us inside the subjective experience of history into the heat of the miners. The idea of the film is to remind people of what happened, and to put mineworkers back in their rightful place. The strike by the national union of mineworkers began on 6th march 1984, in response to pit closures, wage restraints and heavy reductions in government subsidies.
Lesbians and gays support the miners lgsm was an alliance of lesbians and gay men who supported national union of mineworkers during the yearlong strike of 1984 1985. 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. For a year over 100,000 members of the national union of mineworkers, their families and supporters, in hu. 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. The national miners strike 19845 involved 142,000 mineworkers and has been described as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. National union of mineworkers say this will mean closing 20 pits and loss of 20,000 jobs.
In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 19845 was the longest national strike in british history. On 5 march 1984 the men at that pit and those all over yorkshire walked out, not realising that it would be a year before they returned. The strike started in yorkshire in march 1984 and within days half the countrys. I have written a book when we were miners ian isaac 2010 available at amazon and kindle.
She reported on the strikes in scotland a village in stirlingshire. The national union of mineworkers, headed by arthur scargill and mick mcgahey, its president and vicepresident, declared the strike. National union of mineworkers, headed by arthur scargill and mick mcgahey, its president and vicepresident, declared the strike. National union of mineworkers leaflet detailing reasons why the strike should be supported dncb672. After the 1984 85 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. 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. A coal strike in 1974 had brought down ted heaths conservative government. 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. Remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. Notes on the miners strike, 19841985 notes on the strike of uk mine workers against closures and to save their union, the num.
He is the son of john lynk and ivy may, and was born in chesterfield, where his parents had married. Mar 04, 2004 but the kindling for the strike was laid long before the national coal board and the national union of mineworkers jointly lit the match that spring. 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. The bbc has referred to the strike as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. 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 book also includes discussion of issues and lessons arising from the strike. Miners strike 1984 a look back at a lifechanging year. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. It survives as the national union of mineworkers scotland area during the 1920s and 1930s the union was strongly affected by socialist and. The uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry.
Before the strike 27 september 1983 num submits annual pay claim. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board, a government agency. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of 1984 and what it means. Roy lynk obe born 9 november 1932 was a leader of the union of democratic mineworkers. National union of mineworkers as were most miners in the country. To mark the 20th anniversary of the 1984 miners strike, inside out revisits the miners who lost. Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 upi archives. In britain, trade unions had traditionally launched strikes for claims on wage rises and rights at work, but strikes in defence of jobs had been very rare.
Once an important part of the economy, coal was no longer a force to be reckoned with. Although it never won an election or legally represented workers, it was part of an important movement among canadian unions in the 1980s to break away from their international american counterparts. One was the emergence of womens support groups, celebrated in several. In response, the national union of mineworkers, led by socialist arthur scargill, declared a. John dunn from the justice for mineworkers campaign speaking on the uk miners strike of 1984 at the marxist summer school 2014. Wcml mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners.
We heard from mineworkers, police the miners strike day by day. For something so long, violent and shocking that happened in recent history, ive sometimes felt that the miners strike hasnt really been talked the miners strike of 198485 was the bitterest class war since the 1926. The num members put on a brave face, many marching back behind colliery brass bands, but t. During the strike the miners and their families displayed.
Scargill marches with dinnington miners in 1984 rally. The programme proposed the closure of 20 pits on the grounds of economic unviability, but the national union of mineworkers advocated that the. During a set of strikes organised by the national union of miners num the defendant, the claimant, who was a miner, wanted to. The story of the miners strike, 19845 hardcover 2 oct 1986. Mining unions and the 1984 85 miners strike miners federation of great britain prior to the postww2 nationalisation of the mining industry, and the creation of the national union of mineworkers num in 1945, the mining unions were organised into the miners federation of great britain mfgb. Media in category uk miners strike 1984 the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. The dispute polarised the opinion of the general public as well as the lgbt community. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much.
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. The miners strike by mark harvey overdrive rakuten. 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. How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. The story of the british miners strike of 19845, told in weektoweek detail, illustrated by photos from john harris and front pages from the socialist press at the time. Mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners federation of great britain prior to the postww2 nationalisation of the mining industry, and the creation of the national union of mineworkers num in 1945, the mining unions were organised into the miners federation of great britain mfgb. Jean stead, previously news editor for the guardian, was scottish correspondent at the time of the miners strike of 198485. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social club, founded in 1920. The miners strike 198485 thompsons trade union solicitors. 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. Richards book, miners on strike, dedicated a chapter to how unusual it was in 1984 for a largescale strike to be launched in protest at job cuts. Although these earlier strikes were shorter lived than the 1984 strike, they were equally unsuccessful in their ability to have their demands met. Notes on the strike of uk mine workers against closures and to save their union, the num. The overriding message is that the strike was a class war.
Uk miners strike 1984 1985 this article has multiple issues. 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. The strike was led by the national union of mineworkers, led by arthur scargill, although some num members considered the strike to be unconstitutional and did not observe it. A dedication to the men and women who fought not only for the right to work but in the pursuit of a.
The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 198485. No single event has ever had such an impact upon wales as has the 1984 miners strike. The canadian mineworkers union cmu was a canadian trade union of coal miners based in cape breton island, nova scotia. In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 1984 5 was the longest national strike in british history. 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.
On 12 march 1984, yorkshire striking miners turned up at harworth. Apr 01, 2014 remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. 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. If you are interested in the unique story of the kent coalfields the. New film to mark 35th anniversary of the end of the year. How does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike.
National union of mineworkers great britain wikipedia. Thomas v national union of mineworkers law teacher. It joined the miners federation of great britain, and in 1914 changed its name to national union of scottish mineworkers. Jan 11, 2009 video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. Miners strike in south yorkshire and some scottish pits. I was at first reluctant to purchase this book as it was written by one of the. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. 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. By the end of the strike, eleven different lgsm groups had emerged throughout the uk, with the london group alone raising. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal. The miners strike that ended an era adam smith institute. A page dedicated to the memory of the kent mining communities and the 198485 miners strike.