money. With over already lost, this is unlikely.
dale, Florence, Holditch, MORI poll published on Saturday shows the miners Socialist Action what's been going on.
Our special branch
meeting. unanimously voted for the overtime ban. Last time, we allowed safety work to go winders, O-SCLLCES loco-drivers worked This time we've called them out. There are 11 winders in our pit 43 throughout the North Staffs pits.
We don't have enough winders, and - under an 18-year six-day-week local a calcit they work • regular. overtime. They argued their local agreement allowed them to continue work.
We say it's overtime — they're paid overtime Talco. Anyway, national agreements supercede local ones.
e the motos force for were the motor force breaking the action. tried to find compromise.
We said, at the end of the dispute, we'd support NCB four million tonnes of coal Last week the Tory media hailed the North StafWolstanton and Hem their six-day agreement, or argue for more winders to be employed. But this failed.
They're the UlICS who've used threats: to stop the pit if they don't get their overtime.
On Saturday January, they threatened to work, so we pickellea the pit. None came through that Saturday or Sunday. But on Monday Iney Cared one-day revenge strike.
Heart I've never known feelings so strong as tney are al the Hem Health over this Nobody's action. was in last year's overtime ban. This time, they feel the winders letting down the union.
North Staffs has always been moderate, isolated from other areas. The incentive keeps pit wages here artificially high.
But the pressures to act has definitely come from branches. under McGregor, the NCB Everyone can wants to shut down pits • because there's LUC much coal. Monkton Hall threatened with closure because Bet it was was The government want to import coal. If they get British coal, that smash the of the union. At day, our bargaining power will be nil.
If we stick together we ce meen his supper But need the support of other unions.
Sun NACOD (the supervisory union) should be called out. The Railwaymen should be asked to black coal from the pits, and the dockers should black imported coal.
Then, if the NCB tried to move coal by road, the Transport. General workers should refuse to SUN READERS! handle it.
The longer the dispute goes the blokes will get press is saying the action's not having any effect, and thạt puts doubts in their minds.
The action by the National Graphical Association at the Sun - demanding Scargill's right of rep ly to the editor's call for the miners to return to work is terrific. Their 'Kinnock can't dent Maggie' boasted Tuesday's Evening Standard. Oh no I thought as I read 'Poll shows Tories standing steady Labour leader's rating slips.
The poll read Tory General Election 44 per cent: January 84 4y Der cent. It showed had 28 per cent at thi General now has 37 per cent. So Labour from being 14 per cent behind is now 5 per failings continue at this rate even if Maggie holds steady in the next seven months, be seven per cent in front.
Christ knows what TINA the Standard will do if Many cesses.
----- pull-quotes -----
AS THE MINERS' overtime ban moves into its eleventh week, the National Coal Board, backed by the government, claims the ban is saving
fordshire winders strike as a blow against union solidarity. But the five North Staffs pits — Silver-
Heath are solidly backing the ban. On Saturday, the winders voted to halt further protest action. And a solidly behind their Executive. ROB ANDERSON, from Hem Heath colliery, Stoke on Trent, told
MOLES EYE VIEW Figures don't lie