by the government, with regard to the dismissal of It has been a salutory lesson. Just like after 1926, the employers the government have been seen to be victimising people.
But one of the big difterences between the arter math of the general strike and today was the miners weren't defeated in that sense, and the movement's not defeated in that sense The action of the teachTon streets peopleshows that people are still prepared to fight They're not cowed Of course, they'll be people looking at things cautious knowing that there's a day to be brave ana a day to de prudent. But it's quite clear to me outcome of the miners strike as a defeat of the working class of this coun One of the major reasConservative the miners. I was Wales at the time of the Brecon by-election detected some of the feeling. It's no good people Sa Ville Lud because Scargill. A before it wasn't considered in the slightest possible to win it. The only reason we came close was because of Our members are com. ing to the view that it's he lor a change. l ink they want to get back to a with the early 1970s. Because the miners' strike has, and this is the other side, given an example of what real leadership is.
Our members on the other hand have gon through a period wie! they were promised by the Duffys that there's an easy way wages and conditions ou achieving can see their approach to this by their preparedness WILl 'nondisruptive' clauses Our membership would have been satisfied with that leadership if they'd received good wages and conditions - but they haven't. Now we must give the members a choice: are they just prepared to accept the portage they ve been of fered, or are they prepared to struggle for something better?
This involvement of ine memoersmp is the ey irrespective the outcome of the election. the event of a change in leadership, there's magic wand. We'd be misleading the ship if we said vote for Tocher, and then you car forget about things, you'll end up with decent wages, there won't be victimisation SO That change leadership though would facilitate the lavuvented of the membership That's the key to the success the You'll never get anywhere without campaigning and involving the membership.
Socialist Action 6 September 1985