THE DECISION by the transport unions to stop the movement of coal in support of the NUM has given a big boost to the media's concern for democracy.
This concern, needless to say, does not extend to defence of local government or union rights at GCHQ. It is concerned entirely with 'democracy in the NUM'. According to a MORI poll, published on Monday almost 90 per cent of trade unionists think that the NUM should hold a national ballot, and a national Opinion Poll survey published in the Mail on Sunday puts 69 per cent of the NUM in favour of a national ballot.
It is clear that the media will be stepping up their efforts to secure a national ballot in the ten days leading up to the NUM National Executive meeting. democracy for the workers. It is to divide and But the concern of the defeat the NUM.
The reason for the bosses concern with democracy is simple. Faced with one of the most powerful unions in the country, and with the extension of the strike to the transport unions, they are not confident of victory.
Despite the defeats that the working class has suffered under Thatcher, the British working class is still the most strongly organised in the world. If that strength were to be used the Tories would be swept out of office. Thatcher'S only hope is to divide the working class, to isolate the striking miners and then defeat them.
The real weakness of the Tories has been shown union laws against the NUM. This would unite the NUM and could sweep the Tories anti-union laws away. concern for democracy.
All of Thatcher's labour movement have depended on divisions in the class, and the betrayals of the right wing leaders.
The 90 per cent of trade unionists, and 69 per cent of NUM members who support a ballot are wrong, Wales, Scotland and Kent have taken is correct. A national ballot would be a diversion from the task of spreading the strike and making it effective.
It is not democratic for miners whose jobs are safe to vote other miners out of work. It is not democratic for miners who money to put other miners out of work by putting a cross on a piece of paper.
The media hopes that a national ballot will give them the maximum opportunity to influence the outcome. The present campaign of misintormation has produced the kind of response the opinion polls have shown. The best answer tothis is for the miners to build the biggest possi McGahey has been pressing for solidarity action campaign of solidarity.
from other groups of workers. This, and building on the transport unions' blockade of the move ment of coal is the way to deal with the bosses media. The message defeated IS the nub The essence workers in action defending their jobs, their communities and the labour movement.
Editor: ALAN FREEMAN Published weekly except two weeks in August and the last week of December.
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