NUM, spoke to a 1000-strong rally in Aberdare last Saturday.
THIS RALLY is just the first of a series that will culminate in a mass rally in Cardiff on 28 April. That will be organised by the Wales TUC.
When you say Wales TUC you feel a shudder going down your back. Yesterday at the Wales TUC a proposal was put that the only way to positively assist the miners was by calling out the mass of the working class movement for industrial action. Photo: JOHN HARRIS The Wales TUC were swallowing Anadins by the handful then. They were looking at each other and almost crying. They realise without the miners other industrial the Wales TUC would perish.
When we embarked on this struggle for survival, work and the right to bring up our children properly hially people said to me:
But Emin. these are not the miners of 1972 and '74, these voungsters nave got tell those doubters that have forgotten about their morigages and have been a credit to the miners.
Yes, we've got scabs in some parts or ine briusn coalfield and we've got the resurrection of Spencerism Nottingham area in particular. But I must also say this -there Lousands comrades in Nottingham who have beer on strike since Day One. They have only been victimised by the employers but by a gullible leadership in that area. many or nell have received letters that they will be suspended from the NUM!
I tell those comrades andice hers incarcerated in police lave the support of the Wales malicis. they won't support you in Nottingham. we will support you from here.
At the NEC on Thursday the response men at the lobby was fantastic - out of this world. I'll never see a scene like that as long as I live, but I must point out that there certai with the decision reached. George Rees and I were quite clear that the NEC have called everyone out. That is what its function was and that's what it should have done.
Protest As for the delegate conference on 1 nursaay, we met as a South Wales exec yesterday and decided to support the amendment of the rules for 50 per cent plus one: and to present a resolution the Coll ference to instruct every member COMe VUl without a ballot. That day - this 150 PEOPLE packed into Leicester's Workers Centre on Thurshear peakers from the South Vales NUM Kent miners marching to Nottingham, miners' wives from Had fields Coltery Doncaster and local trade unionists. The rally had been called by the Support Committee established by Leicester Trades Council.
Stephenson, Kent marcher, spoke of the enthusiastic reception their 10 day march had received even in strongholds Rochunke ester. A bucke collection mere ma raise over £200.
He also recalled how in London he had gatecrash. ed a CND meeting since they had been sitting ol the fence' when does concern them. If coa what do they think there is left to use?' he He left with a collection of £117 after telling the CND members present that if the NUM was smashed its campaign would be a great deal weaker rousing reception was given to Lynne Greig and Margaret Dalton from Hadfield colliery Yorkshire. Lynne, part of the support group in Doncaster, spoke of Thatcher's concern for democrac She won strong applause when she said Thatcher is only interested in democracy for scabs. She says they have a what about the four million on ine cole 'they've also got the right to Woth women showed Both the determination miners' wive fight alongside their husbands, as Margaret Dalton put it:
'I believe it is very important to show Margaret Thatcher that we women stronger than she is. are the iron ladies of this country, not her.
IF CHA OTTISHA ACTION GROUr Pir ELOSUKESPPOS CLUS NATIONAL AND A •UNITE