AMONG the impressive display of banners swayin above last week's NUM Mansfield was one wile wa not welcome. Above a picture depicting a shouting threatening cudgel a miner with a roll- wOlllall ing pin. were the words: The force that kept the Notts miners at work' where there in Notts some 12,000 … or ine coalfield's 30,000 workers on strike the truth is very Having to cope with the Stress of living in divided communit! getting little or no support from the local NUN! of ficials - some of whom are still at work • joining the men on the picket line. and at the same time trying to scrape together the next meal has made life harder for the Notts' women than anyhody else.
As soon as the first strikers out the women started organising. They occupied community centres turning them over to feeding the strikers and their families. Then they went out collecting door to door and set up stalls in the They town approached the local Lahour Parties and now many of the wards have 'adopted' a pit Women well-established groups have one go her arear t suppor: LOT -mittees ¡i a resull iner: are now regular meeting Notts support groups. Last Wednesday from Notts and women Barnsley picketed the mor ning shifts at Sherwood and Silverhill collieries.
were arrested at Sherwood when they blocked the pit enIrance. . When others were leaving the Silverhill picket one woman was punched in the face and four others including scargili were arrested she had obviously been picked out for arrest.
The police were determined to show that they don't dea lightly with women, either • at Greenham or women who give support to ine miners.
But later that aftereven more women nOol turned out on the picket Souz Londo Birmingham i n Trade Linion Rescource Centre.
Ealing c/owes london stad Union Clut, 33 Acton High St. London W?
Southampton : o NUPE District Office. 43 Leigh Rd, Eastleigh.
HantCardiff Room 219, Transport House, 1 Cathedral Rd Cardiff. Tel: 0222 31176 Hounslow c/o lan MacDonald, 220 Wellington Road South Hounslo Middx. Tel: 01-577 3429.
Medway c/o Vince Drongin. Med way Towns Trades Union Council, 19 Randall Rd Chatham, Ken Bury c/o Brian Marden, 061-76 9648 Oxford c/o Claimants Union.
Princes St, Oxford Leeds dio Distric Lahour Party. 9 Queen Su. Leed 2.
Skinner MP. Ivor Braggins Tuesday 5 June, 7.30 pm Oxford Town Hall Organised hy Oxford District Trades Council
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Support the Miners Rally (NUM General Sec), Jimmy Knapp (NUR), Ron Todd (TGH U). Dennis
(Convenor Cowler Assembly Plunt). Kathi McKar (Sheffield Women against Pit Closures)