IF NOTHING else, Comrades is a film which tells more about working class history than Neil Kinnock or Norman Willis standing with a shovel under a tree in Dorset at an anniversary to commemorate the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The film sympathetically once though not broadening out at all into the context in which the struggle took place (straight after the 1832 Bill at the beginning of the Chartist movement).
This shouldn't detract Some Dl dEl aspects within the film. For exame tacoeo elgol as an ideology among the workig class.
Reviewed by Ray Sirotkin description We glvcila of vivid the labourers being told by the Church England preacner Wal lic musl cept his lot on earth'. He immediately walks out of the church to be welcomed by the Methodist community on the basis you are ențitled to a better lot in this life Such basic ideas were important initiating. struggle and were an advance. However, the cost COMRADES — for - dramatises part of working class history, was the rooting of Methodism within the working class. Significantly, these events occurred belore the writing of the Communist Manifesto.
The independence of the working class is confused by the role of a liberal magistrate pursuit of usuce. unconotedv suca people existea, but the working class then and now have been the main fighters for justice not lust IoI 'trade union' issues.
Throughout we are only shown the workers fighting for wages and could easily be led to delleve inal ine London Dorchester Committee, the campaign for the release of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, had nothing to do with them.
Perhaps it would be strange to expect a film about six men to show women a lcaaing roie. From glimpses, it is obvious ,that women participated in the struggle.
But how are they portrayed? As mothers. As taking food to the men in the fields. Then later, sweeping. up the meeting room of the O0OI vorcieslel Committee!
would have served well to show that women in sil liggic . LICH maybe Bill Douglas the director forgot too?
The exploits of the six in Australia reveal little. But, quite interestingly, Old Standfield, one of the six sccfl Ha erusue with aboriginies. Not very usual in the British Empire of the time. inis relanonsnid Is referred to only briefly.
Nevertheless, the film does bring out the ruthlessness of both the state and employers of the time he fundamentals of class justice are apparent. (So what's new?)
For these essential reasons, the film is a must. But don't go when Norman Willis is in town! ACCORDING to figures issued last million in lost production.
managers have offered non-productive union activists has been stepped up.
weakness in the union's response. labour movement.
"THE number of strikes coap eroustry is s times industry number mos the * average number strikes in the economy as a whole. Typically, coal inaustry strikes ahe sont. and involve small numbers ot men. but even allowing for these factors the average mineworker loses eight times as many hours through strikes as the UK average'. British Coal, Report accounts 1986/7.
mphain of a centure of complain of a 'culture militancy' in the coälfields. This is just two and a half years after the year long 1984-85 strike in which the miners. were supposed to have been sions, the have Seventy jobs have been lost. But of The Women Against Pit Closures:
Many uleover 20 retirement. management drives to output muuCs have little but to ICDECSCLILS miners to the coal ing proUVCI years.
the tion.
The started where the NUM reatesi.
Whetton, NUM week, the miners overtime ban has cost the coal board $2.5 But these losses have been the occasion not for the board's retreat over the code of conduct but for an intensification of its dirty tricks. Miners in Yorkshire report that local pit workers unlimited overtime in an attempt to divide them from face workers covered by the ban. Harrassment Long-running disputes at particular pits are being brought to a head by management out for blood and sensing But despite substantial rank and file pressure for more forthright action and as Yorkshire miners prepare for their own ballot over stronger action on 20/21 October, the NUM's national executive voted at its Labour Party meeting by 12 votes to nine to maintain status quo. CLIVE TURNBULL looks at why a softly-softly approach will not convince the coal board to back down, and why building a movement in support of the miners is vital for the entire secretary Bevercotes, was sacked for posting a Mark Hunter Tony Geddes, NUM oCu Cla and delegate at Welbeck were sacked distributing NUM leaflets Mick McGinty, Notts NUM vice-president sacked for arguing with an overman.
Even when the coal hoard lost its case at an in dustrial tribunal and was ordered to reinstate Paul Whetton, 1t Sill. 'won'.
Whetton was offered reemployment, not at Bever cotes but miles away at Manton Shireoaks the South Yorkshire coalfield.
Similarly Ted Scott, NUM branch secretary Selby complex was sacked for carrying out union duties.
The board offered employment 20 miles away Wheldale, which is due
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'Pal iot branch