THIS WEEK the labour movement has in its hands the power to win the miners' strike. The decisions of last week's TUC congress, if they were put into practice, would secure victory.
No government can withstand a blockade of the power stations. If the AUEW and the GMBATU carried out the pledges made by David Basnett and Gavin Laird at the TUC the government's whole position would crumble.
All the power workers' have to deliver is the most elementary principle of trade unionsim: no crossing of picket lines; no handling of goods taken across a picket line. They do not even have to encace in the kind of solidarity strike that the are in fact involved in.
It was this simple policy won the strikes in 1972 and 1974. And it would again it 1984.
What is more the union leaderships and the TUC do have the power to deliver that support. The reaction when the TUC called for solidarity over massive. TGWU leadership has held together, and at the beginning of the week even hardened, the dock strike despite the massive press and government offenAnd if the TUC delivered on its policy now, the NUM would have won the strike. For the NUM will never be forced back to work by hardsm once tney know lal victory simply a question of time until the blockade of power bites.
The TUC has the power to cut the hardship of the finance and general purposes committee can call on quite enough funds to ensure the NUM cannot be starved back to work. massive financial aid would harden the strike and boost morale still further.
ago, today it is clear that the miners strike can be won.
strike simply by delivering its congress policy. Even MacGregor's attempts blow the TUC's decisions by refusing negotiaunions tions came apart at the first hurdle.
leadership of the TUC do not want a crushing and the NUM leadership. But they BIne a pokers members, and are even aware that if Thatcher can crush the NUM she will which come for them next The TUC promise that worst provocations, but lets through the pit closure programme. And that means defeating a strike that can be won.
The Fortunately already shown that they power to upset Everything is still to be fought for. If in the next weeks militants in every into reality this strike can win: despite Thatcher, Lairds.
If the TUC back the miners, no pit need close.
today is simple. Carry out the TUC The TUC decisions.
power stations. STOP ALL COAL!
The announcement of If anyone doubted it six months The TUC can ensure victory in the credibility But that is just the problem. The victory for Arthur Scargill pressure of their are seeking a 'comremoves NCB's the miners have have the every calculation.
despite the Basnetts and There is no need for compromise.
The task of the whole movement Blockade the DON'T CROSS NUM PICKETS COAL No, DOLE JOBS& COAL
Socialist Action 14 September 1984