TWO YEARS after the beginning of the miners strike, and just over a year since we returned to work, the morale Mineworkers remains high. But we are facing, still, enormous problems on six fronts.
our strike; the NCB continue to dismantle the conciliation and consultation procedures within the industry; the legal cases against the union are still pursued by the receiver; we are confronted with the employer-sponsored which, unfortunately, diverts some of our energy away from fighting the real enemy, the National Coal Board; the attack on our jobs and our communities continues, regardless of the enormous cost to taxpayers; and, of course, the receiver still controls the financial affairs of the NUM which stops us operating effectively as a trade union.
All these problems make life for the NUM complicated. But they do National of We have 550 members victimised as a result of breakaway organisation not detract from the main principles for which we Contue to suruccc We have in excess 1000 of the 2300 NUM South Derby miners with the National Mineworkers. that coalfields an overall majority of the workforce is part the national through COSA, the power and the new South Derby NUM. We are very encouraged situation which comes about as a result of the ac. tivities of loyalists in these AI CAS• I am confident that the UDM is already in decline. They just haven't had the impact they were claiming. Iney talked recruiting by the end of 1985, and they continue to MC UCES region of 40,000.
indications that -LIC they now to have 25,000 mem- WOUL be fortunate DeSS In addition, the receiver has been informed by the Coal Board that they will send to him the contributions and South Derby members.
collecion wsch is uses has meant that NUM dues, COLeCLOn which should have gone to receiver, nave been sent UDM by the area Coal Board manage ment. In effect the NCH Sheer Sicalilg the NUM's money Now 5800 (OHIOULAST MONDAY saw Loyalism. The strikes, riots, What are the traditions -Ene Loyalists claimed to be defending? • democracy to reserve the best jobs in the North of Ireland for protestants.
The 'tradition' of random cluaing the population even token participation in the ата ne Nort. tradition thất thi ns. demand that entire OT sectana judice and discriminatior be paid for by The North of relanc state cannot rank in the scale of its horrors, or its unal nature, WILE South Africa or Israel. But its supporters have the same mentality. The acUle on Monday were those of a cracy baying for blood CaC Ola aDOUl aI SLU Only the smashing of the North of trol nd sathe Protestant tion Protestant on vleges. will ever Cical any basis for unity betthe protestant WoCl catholic WOrKIe sole means achieve is a united tre and That sectarian North of Ireland state also showeo tse r ius uue gory ou Monday. Directed against the Loyalist thugs bigots was none of the 'shoot to kill' policy used Finale at the Justice for Sunday tions will be redirected to ihe receiver wigwi as be claiming monies outstanding to our union.
During last 12 months, the labour has given concucerane neo oue National of Mineworkers. In the weeks and months we hope that this will continue, and that - ine movenen as hole will keep up the the Union of Mineworkers and SUDDUL especially our victimised fighting on MCHUCE. hehalf of the trade movement as a whole. whole.
for Mine. workers Campaign, p5. against the Catholic
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sectarian killing of Catho- lies. A 'democracy' of ex-
the true face of Ulster and intimidation in Belfast, and the rest of the North of Ireland, had nothing whatever to do with any form of progressive working class action. This was a reactionary mob solely roused in defence of its sectarian privileges.