THE deal concluded management's right to on an overtime ban at its stance. to the NUM's support, writes JON SILBERMAN.
THE executive Geesol follows the majority in the recent national ballot. Every area in the union voted in favour of action.
Opposition to the code has forged a new unity in Many areas have already been affected by its provisions.
More than 3500 Welsh miners who were sent writwarnings tollowing a dispute over concessionary have to treat of instant dismissal hanging over them.
An NUM member in Notts involved in a fracas in a miners welfare was forced to pay a f150 THE NATIONAL executive of the NUM decided pre-TUC meeting in Blackpool, 6 September. By 28 votes to four, the executive decided to take action from 21 September if fine; the alternative would have been the sack. branch official in Durham was disciplined for handing out leaflets against flexible working.
Disciplinary action against colliery in Souft NUM Frickley YOLKS led July thousands of miners tak ing strike action.
So strong was the feeling against the code in the coalfield that the union's council voted not only to push for national action at the national executive but that it would take action at area level regardless of the decision at national level.
Some members of the national executive argued for postponing sion on action until after further lalks with the board.
of them, Eric Clarke Scotland, said on BBC : radio during the lunchtime recess in the executive meeting that he felt hoard had made concessions which suggested further talks could avoid the need But as Arthur Scargill explained, British Coal's 'concessions' were largely cosmetic. They had failed to move on any or we six principled objections of une unrol Scargill said that what the union was after wasn't an overtime ban but withdrawal of the code.
The code would replace disciplinary proccuurc which has operated in the industry for 40 years. The saigotiated about national. said, should ly. This was the policy of the Yorkshire response to proposed sixworking as Thorne in the Selby coalfield, he went on, predicting massive op position to the proposal.
Thompson paid tribute women Against Pit Closures, especially to the work they'd' done over the victimised miners.
He ended by explaining another issue facing the NUM executive — whether or not to sit down and negotiate alongside UDM onucials To shouts 'never' Thompson expressed his position t ¡ealina wile i scal like Link and Prendergast, said that he thought the decision should be in the hands of the membership in a ballot.
The ISSUC of the disciplinary code was taken up in another well-received speech - by Tony Benn.
Benn said that the code ums up 'in a strange wi hat the whole Thatch era is about.
It's not only about in condition s conditions about whether • she is going to be able, and whether we are going to allow her to be able, to throw conditions in this country back to what they were in the Victorian Tony Benn went on to explain what he said was the 'way ahead. He said 'we've got to link this camaign with every other campaign.
Referring to the banners that adorned the walls of the marquee, Benn said that they showed the issues involved: Irish freedom, Bangla Desh, South Africa, and went on to refer to 'the struggle of the printers, evel • the traffic controllers in Spain' Tony Benn's appeal that 'we've got to learn to link arms together as being at the centre of 'building up the trade union, labour and socialist movement all over again was a key theme of the gala. board's claim that the establishment of the UDM the current procedure out of date is true , only because the scab outfit has declared its support for the new code.
The other reason the UDM is relevant is because management want the right pick representatives British Coal objected miners being represented by victimised colleagues especially collieries the UDM where flas strength.
The real reason for the new code is to prepare the way for imposing "flexible working' disciplinary procedure was established just same time as the miners won the guaranteed five day week, which is now under threat by Margan and other proposed 'flex.
sites And the newly forged unity of the union against on the disciplinary code will bowen ul weapon against flexibility itself.
The board, the governFriends know how impor their media tant this struggle will be Already they have taken steps try divide miners wives - who were such a powerful ally during the strike • from the They have sought to encourage divisions within the union, and they have aimed at isolating the NUM the labou movement.
The entire moverden musI respond in kind. Old links forged during the strike should be renewed. Leaders SHOUL be pressed to declare their support to the NUM Miners should be invited platforms and to ONLO movement bodies to explain their case.
The message should go out loud and clear miners must win.
NUM
----- pull-quotes -----
the coal board refuses to move from its hard line The entire labour movement must now rally