IS THERE a corner in your home where you store old memories? When I was asked to write a piece on Saltely Gates newspapers to jog my memory.
some trade union leaders. secretary, attempted to isolate the miners by suggesting that they against the Tory pay norms.
And who do you think said this? 'The unions must not create a serious enough, industrial. crisis or industrial damage to the nation's economy to cause a crisis which would topple the ment.' It was Frank Chapple!
same Frank Chapple settled the power workers pay claim inside the very pay norm the miners were fighting much to the annoyance of rank power workers.
Harold Wison's search for compromise the extent of trying to get Fisher Bendix WOrKeIS. who were occupying their factory, to call off their acBut the role of these coule dues comorer the events that led to the closing down of the at Saltley. Saturday's Birmingham Mail was full of how we could expect an ininvasion of miners the next day. What first hits you is the similar role played by Vic Feather, then TUC were a special case in the fight I went to Saltley on Sunday. miners Wales the Midlands stood around talking to students workers who down to SNOW solidarity.
Heeley Labour Party The first wagons weren't due until the next morning. a postal worker at the time, wor oe union, the uw, had just suffered at the hands of the lories Many of us were rooting for the Half a dozen UPW members went back to the pickel on monday noon. The dreds and groups of other workers were Spontaneously joining the picket line to show their support. Already number of had police violence were comtatives of the local labour miles Woodgate Valley to join the picket.
But the biggest cheer that day came when hundreds of women engineers, the BL banner, joined the picket. Several workers got arrested trying to close the road, police with several miners in arrested.
On Tuesday evening the engineering unions of the Confed pledged their support for the miners and along with the trades copper ter to sanise support Saltley Other miners had been drumming up sup colleges On Wednesday morning a large picket at Birmingham Crown Court protested the arrests miners. By now there were thousands at Saltiev. that evening a call went out trom the loca labour movement for workplaces balliey on Thursday morning.
When the Austin Rover banner, followed by engineering workers, came the railway bridge we knew no traffic would come or go that direction Other workers from BL, buildwere soon to fil the ering engineering approach roads.
When thur Scargil 10.45am, Arthur announced that the gates had been closed there was wet eye. We al went and got drunk after No one should pretend will to turn into another saltley In 1972 workers nad wilnessec a series or factory occupations industry Birmingham was still relatively booming, numbers shop stewards quarterlies were dozens, unemployment was still low.
But the massive of money amioulls food being collected for the miners shows the suporganised. means whole of the labour movement to go to Orgreave must be set. volving the ranks of the unions can ensure that Orgreave is another Saltley and not a Grunwick.