WHEN BILL SIRS announced Monday that the ISTC was going to accept scab coal and iron ore into the steel plants he said, 'We will protect the jobs of miners steelworkers by ensuring the continuity of the supply of materials.
Given Sirs' record the idea that he defends anyone's job is one of the sickest jokes around. He is the union leader with the unique record of selling more than half the jobs in his industry.
The road to disaster started on December 1979 when the ISTC sub. mitted a 20 per cent claim. British Steel replied with an insult - a two per cent offer conditional or productivity strings Less than a week later BSC followed it up with an announcement 52,000 jobs were to be cut. On 2 January 1980 there was an alliusl total walkout b steelworkers The battle for steelworkers' jobs was Ull In contrast to the STC's role today, the he His sing to re Arthur defence steelworkers.
At the end of January Scargill took the stage at the ISTC's rally field to declare, 'I've been accused of interfering the steel I plead guilty. The applause was deafening.
He went on, "They say refrain secondary picketing. What they mean is refrain from effective picketing 'They Cal introduce whatever laws they like but we'll picket whatever targets are necessary to win this If steel Tories is a victory for all workers win against of us. You can count on the support of the The All weren't just words. steel was boycotted being bought into the pits. Kent and other coalfields miners lost wages as work was held back Then Bill Sirs followsed Scargill onto the platform. His 'let's get round the negotiating table' call was audience.
Two days later, on 26 randary that Lord Denning ruled secondary picketing was illegal.
Vonetheless two days later 200,000 Welsh workers struck in defence of jobs in steel, mining and rail, bringing Wales to a halt.
South Wales was survival with mediately Port Llanwern. voted to go on indefinite There were moves to a rail strike. The direct threat of a general strike in Wales to defend jobs existed.
Then the TUC stepped Sirs' support halting the strike action