this is and what the stakes are.
Kent was first staffed by people who walked to the coalfield looking for work. My dad walked into the coalfield before the First World War. Many had been barred from other pits because of their political views.
They brought their militant traditions With them. That's organised the march to Nottingham. We walked to Kent looking for work; we are prepartu lo walk from were lo keep it.
The government's not acting from a position of streneth. It they were. they'd not need thousands of police on the streets propping up their rotten laws.
In a class-based society, the ruling class have got to maintain ineir own What were seeing TWO OUT OF Kent's three pits are due to close under MacGregor's plan. Kent miners have reacted with militancy to the area's call for action. Kent NUM secretary, JACK COLLINS, told Socialist Action why of nuclear weapons. we fighting for, abused for their sexuality?
Led to try and silence their protest?
tions, are the organised workers.
to destroy the trade unions, particular the bronzest bellonelieuters.
losing back DuUUUTL straightforward example of the class struggle. It is not simply confined to the shop floor, it's out on the streets.
The divisions in society have mored on since 1972-74. Conflicts worldwide have become sharper. Look see the arms race, and the huge build-up dispute.
are the Greenham women and why they Why do the police and the army have to be us• mmons are pur on ine dore eventually people are bound to take action. The only people that can give a lead, apart from political organisaThat'swhy the government is out and in best-organised We're told by the press that we're people's sympathy. I came from London recently £3500 of sympathy! We've got more from the NUR, the NUS, ASLEF and the TGWU than we had in the strikes 10 years ago.
For the steel strike in 1980 we levied Kent miners, provided hotel accommodation for the pickets, refused to handle steel, and supported the picket lines at Sheerness. We'd like to our support returned in this This strike is a battle for whole communities. Even the local paper, ene mercury, recoguses InIs. IAIs l why women have come forward and are more active in this dispute than last time. We're fighting because our livelihoods are at stake.
Miners going in think they're safe. But what right have they got to stop us fighting to save our jobs? question I'd like to see answered is whether a miner going into work in Nottinghamshire is prepared to take responsibility for sacking another somewhere else. with The Jack Collins, Secretary Kent Area NUM
Socialist Action 20 April 1984 South Wales NUM President