A MAJORITY of miners at Bevercotes colliery in North Notts have just completed a week of strike action in protest at the sacking of their NUM branch secretary Paul Whetton. Paul was sacked for posting notice of an NUM branch meeting at the pit. The strike, which involved UDM members as well as the NUM branch, crippled production at the pit.
The new wave of NCB attacks in Notts includes last Wednesday's sacking of Mark Hunter and lony Geddes, Welbeck NUM members, for the unautnonsed distribution' of NUM leaflets.
When this news was passed to a mass meeting at Bevercotes, in the words of NUM HIcd Vice Prestdent, Mick McGinty: lot of lads got up from the floor said lilal ther would have the next two days off as well in protest at the Welbeck situation?
At a number of other Bishore including, Ollerton, Gedling, leading NUM members have been given final warnings by management 101 d FOR Monday 3 March meant no 'fair pay for teachers variety of alleged offences relating to NUM activity.
AI Calverton colliery, NUM memoer. was suspended last week for allegedly removing a UDM poster. This poster calls on members suffering 'har'unrecognised organisation called the NUM' to report this to the UDM sc that 'these people can be dismissed by the managemenl .
However, there are also increasing within the UDM. The NCB's assault on the NUM is a reflection of the difficulties now facing the breakaway.
Some UDM members voted to continue the action at last Wednesday's mass meeting.
These cracks in the NUM members in Notts a new confidence to rebuild thei res s NCB's attacks. As Mick McGinty explains: we _ano watch our members being picked off one by We've gol lo We can't lie down and let them walk all over us Pau] Whetton, sacked Nunranen secretar Bevercotes, explained his of the situation VICW Notts.
was suspended allegedly for putting NUM meeung notice up. In reality, it was in response to a letter from Area mousma readons elling managers to be ex tra vigilant. They couldn' get me on anything else bad time keeping or any breach of the Mines Quarries Act. I believe the went out to "get 'This highlighted lengths that management are prepared to go ic too ine Num ano cusho he UDM. Even hardenec UDM men have seen it and learnt te lesson, as WIll the UDM members who have come out and stayed out inrougn unis dispute They can see it's a blatant victillisallull for carrying out trade union principles and practices.
as we hoped UDM members would attend, which they did.
'We're Placing COncerted attack the NCB because of the suc ces. recruiting welc back laville into the At our colliery we finished the strike with 100 When we held the political levy ballot in early December we'd got