THIS week has begun to reveal the lies of MacGregor and the National Coal Board.
After three weeks of struggle the miners' strike is already taking its toll on coal stocks.
• Domestic suppliers admit they run out of coal in the next few days.
• British steel at Scunthorpe has cut production by a nal que to coke shortages and pickets are moving Oul to other steel • Many foundries may run out this week, others now openly admit stocks cannot more than three weeks.
• At docks up and down the country miners have succeeded in preventing imported coal being unloaded.
• British Rail admit that only 10 of the 'merrygo-round' trains linking pits and power CHIONS have been running.
So much for MacGregor's lie that coal stocks could sustain a prolonged strike.
And the hope that divisions within the would end the dispute has also foundered.
The action CONI against Yorkshire was dropped in the hope that the "moderate' areas would deal with the situation themselves. Instead, after a week of picketing, the decisions not to go on strike have been reversed in every area except Nottingham and South Derby.
The tide is running with the NUM. For the strike to bite as rapidly as possible the urgent need now is for the maximum solidarity from other unions.
The Nuk nas done a superb job in many areas in stopping the movement rai. Now the pressure on movement of coal by every means should be stepped up. The docks must be tied down, the picketing of power stations extended still further he miners are winning Ine ballie so tar, out tne are still a very long way victory. The successes of the last week provide a firm basis for the future, but major obstacles still remain to be overtone The miners have so far paralysed the Tories anti-union laws. But these laws are too important for the strategy them to be continually flouted. The Times, the Mail, and other papers, are urging a return to court action quite possibly against unions taking solidarity action as well as against the NUM.
The government is also relying on the TUC. It was the role of Len Murray that handed cadie snan his victory in Warrington.
So tar the luc has kept totally silent on the dispute. Given its role over the NGA some might think that no bad thing. But in reality disgrace movement.
The NUM is not going to win this dispute by itsell especially themselves in court. NUM has to step up the pressure on the TUC to come out openly in supof the dispute. The OUTL TUC must endorse the solidarity being taken by other unions and make it clear that it will call general strike action against any attempts to use the courts against unions involved in the The entire course of the trade unions is going to have to be turned round Sarah Tisdall now, in this dispute, waiting for the TUC Congress in September.
As the strike begins to bite the TUC and trade union movement must: • Бина solidarity with the miners • Name the day for solidarity action with the NUM to use the courts against the unions will be met with general strike action.