HARDER Orgreave coke depot than it was at Saltely 12 years ago.
Then workers streamed from their factories across Saltley bridge responding solidarity to stop coke being removed from Saltley and the gates were shut.
On 29 May 1984 the miners once again rallied outside a coke depot Haus South Yorkshire - 10 prevent the NCB using scab lorrv drivers to transport coke the Scunthorpe works or une brinsn sleel poration.
The scenes of that day were unforgettable but for ditterent reasons than the victory Saltley gates.
The Tories and the police closing the gates at foundry workers car Arthur Scargill's call for depot. The police were outnumbered by the pickets were out for revenge and they • unieashed a arrage of fury against the miners an industrial dispute for many, many years in Britain.
Maurice Jones, Editor of The Miner described the day most vividly saying there were three sets animals present: 'The dogs, the police horses the police themselves .. Horses were galloped into people, and old, scything them down -rained down repeatedly on unprotected heads ... I saw man lying on the ground, white faced and twitching. A policeman on horseback deliberately rode back over him 'One miner had blood streaming from the corner of his eye where a member souad had deliberately inserted his Police dogs were set on pickets who tried to The riot squad, uscolave ea tor ine nrst unie Il ail industrial dispute, charged into the crowd and smash ed their transparent shields 1BLO taces oi miners. Their helmets were used as head-butts. Eighty two arrests and 32 iniured was the toll at the end of the day.
'police state, something you are used to seeing in Chile and Argenhad been created in South Yorkshire argued Arthur Scargill who was himself arrested with other miners the next day.
Roland Whitehead exthe Por. takabin was dragged onto the road and burned. Ihe charges the mounted police dictated that miners made barriers 'out of what was at hand' "This is why une wal ar une sue oute road was pushed over the telegraph OUIC. WCIO uprooted. Not as a battering ram as was claimed on television but to block the road.' The battle he explained "set-piece confrontation by the police Saltley gates Anyone who has been on the Orgreave picket line will realise that Arthur Scargill has the wholehearted support of the militant miners. He is with them on the picket lines at each crucial point and when he is there he gets tumultuous applause. Picket But too otten at the Orgreave nicket fine Al thur Scargill seems to be Members une leduct of the Yorkshire area executive, who should be in charge of this activity 110L Ine week leading following the pickets.
Sheffield
Council urged all local trade unionists to support the miners' picket on Wednesdar 2-3,000 people attended was not enough to but it push through police lines 20-50 deep.
The only tually directing operations Jack Taylor, was Artnur. along with other pickets had . apparently been held back by police from joining that particular picket.
une Dossibie for the Yorkshire area's Jukewarm attitude can bi as Dave Parry explained in our leaders the negotiations have taken priority over picketing."
Whatever the reason un f bullains up Pie et line dare le se police dare USC violence to contain it is the only way that the gates at Orgreave will close The NUM has to learn the lessons of Saltley as well as A date should be set when the rest of the labour movement comes out and shows not ony that : they wish to give financial sup port to the miners but, as at Saltley Gates, they are with them action against the police and the riot squads.