'not just for 1972 and bringing down the He called on the labour auccultu *rediscover the spirit of 1972 when workers destroyed the Industrial Relations Act and the government'. IN A FIERY speech to Labour Party conference, exminer Denis Skinner. MP for Bolsover, warned that Thatcher is hell bent on revenge against the miners ment, but for the U-turn Forced on her in 190V.revealed plans, decimate the industry. butchery •won't just affect individual pits.
Whole coalfields will go as reduced output is concentrated in a limited number of 'super-pits', where new computerised squeeze more profits out of fewer miners.
This means almost total closure for the pits in South Wales, Scotland and the North East and the picking off of as many pits as possible in Lancashire. the Midlands. Yorkshire and Kent. The miners' union estimates a job loss of at least 70,000.
down of Scottish pits on 17 But Monktonall pickets outside this conterence thạt their leaders nad only denvered a token strike.
The Monktonhall battle is a test case for ever pit in Britain Their militant stand will need to be echoed throughout the if LIC fighting Brighton words of Skinner and Scargill are to become a reality. Viability To drive this through, the NCB has changed the ground rules for determining pit viability. Profitability replaced evidence of coal exhausimpossible geological conditions.
This is backed by investment starvation which threatens the ability of pits to produce good coal and overcome difficult geological conditions.
The NCB chairDCLOUIE MacGregor has tried these 'leaner but fitter' tactics WALT devastating effect in the steel industry.
Now, he is determined to smash the hard won ability. of the NUM to veto and control management plans by brushing aside well established consultation and negotiation procedures.
Monktonhall offer a case SUOY approach. The dispute began when, without negoulation.
Board suddenly stopped a £6 million development indevelopment is rich seam. This crucial to the future life of the pit.
Then 63 face worker returned 5 minutes late from a meeting to discuss These redundancies, they were locked out. By then the miners had had enough, they occupied the manager's office for two and a half hours and the strike began.
Four weeks into the ac tion, hall miners are campaignthe broader labour movement. aw/Lewis Merthyr ATENHALL JERSECURITI Monktonhall miners picketing counting...
Jobs taken out of the coal industry, based on CLOSURES ANNOUNCED SINCE
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miners hit back to the total one day shut