WITH THE experience of Spencerism in mind, Notts militants feared from the start of the strike that the right wing area leadership was to form a break away union. The moves in this direction were stepped up at the end of 1984, when those same area leaders organised a Notts rule-change ballot aimed at undermining the power of the national union.
which said that in any conflict between area and national rules, national rules applied. Notts area council, on 20 December 1984, contirmed the change.
changes were the National Coal Board — who issued soothing statements about the coalfield's rosy future — and the Nottingham Evening Post. The latter carried a series of 'exclusives' 'moderate area leaders'.
The changes would, claimed the Post, *put thousands of working miners in Nottinghamshire beyond the disciplinary powers of President Arthur Scargill.' It was consistently 7DV all that such moves represented to break with the NUM. Notts miners voted by 13 pre In July this cent - with 8000 not voting - to reject the upcoming rule changes. Once the Post and the Coal Board campaigned alongside the area officials for that vote.
When NUM national conference voted to sack the new scab general secretary of Nottinghamshire, Roy Lynk, Notts ha already appointed him. The Notts Evening Post shed crocodile tears at the treatment of the 13-person delegation in Sheffield. It courage to endure what Roy Lakes special Prendergas and the rest of the Notts lad are going through.' No ballot Two days later Lynk and Co had walked out of conference proclaiming their breakaway. There would be no ballot they said, the men had already voted whelmingly against the rule changes.
That weekend, represen branches voted 228 to 20 for a resolution dissociating the the national with immediate effect. The Monday editorial The proposed change was simple: delete Rule 30, Among those campaigning hard for the Notts rule extensively quoting unnamed of the Post again welcomed the decision as a return to traditional principles Value of British unionism'. One in the eye for playgrounc bully' Arthur Scargili Victory demonstration of the Notts miners in 1972 The same day Ray Chadburn was locked out of the area offices. He hasn't been readmitted since.
Chadburn and Henry Richardson have challenged the area decision in the High Court. Lynk told the Post he'd undertaker change the rules except ir the proper manner. "But, he said, and will not obey, national union. As far as I'm concerned, we are not in the NUM.
Superscab Superscab Lynk poses as super-democrat. He describes the decision to split from the NUM as The beginning of what I believ will be a maior new force 1 moderate trade unionism in inis country.
He explains: 'We are determined to maintain our links, both financial, with the Labour But in Notts it widely rumoured that he was on the verge of joining the SDP before the split took place.
Despite the efforts of the NUM-sponsored MPs, Con cannon and Haynes, to back Lynk up, Kinnock's state ment to the Durham miners gala rormany canca ror uni ty and distanced the party from the breakaway. NUM loyalists want clearer action from the Labour Party and the TUC.
'Kinnock appealed to the Notts miners to stay national, says Les Dennis, wno was pickel manager al Linby pit throughout the but that not enough. Him Willis must go public. They've got to get on the telly and explain they're not going te access summed.
summed the Notts: 'We changed our Notts rules last December. The Linby men as a whole voted against the changes, but when it got unrougn une we cepted we'd been out-voted. Out-voted 'In Sheffield a fortnight ago, it was the same system. Lynk and them took part in the vote - - then thev back screaming they didn't like it. Those are the "true democrats" for you.
'On the Notts balance sheet it said we won't accep the rule changes, and if need be we would break away or be expelled. But that's two separale quesuons. Iven nac voted not to accept the rule voted to break away.
the pit gates handing it out.
Gwen told us:
response has been quite good. At least 80