LES GASSOR is lodge secretary at Nantgarw coke ovens. We talked to him about the legal threat NUM's funds.
What will happen to the NUM's funds if the fine remains unpaid?
Only the national union's runas are inreatened. We have two separate funding systems the national union funds and the area funds.
The writ only affects the national funds because it was taken out against Arthur Scargill and the national executive The al ca. of course, has already has its funds sequestered The strike is not a nationa strike. It's an area action which has been made official by the national executive under rule 41. The national union is in fact a federa. tion of areas.
If they seize the funds of the national union there will still be the area funds. They are usually topped up by contributions from national dues have been paid but been frozen because of the strike It they go for the are funds that will be an even bigger problem.
What exactly does the judge's ruling mean? The judges have ruled that the picket lines in Yorkshire and Derbvshire are illegal and that it's not an official strike.
Our rule book says that each area can take action under rule 41, with the per mission of the national ex ecutive which has been done.
We're supporting the Wembley TUC decision to oppose legal interference in trade unions. If we went to court our case would be clear. The TUC Congress decided not to recognise the right of legal interference. Where's the rest of the TUC to support us now?
We know that our strike is official and that they have no right to interrer our mue Dook to sull their ends.
What's your view of the ruling!
Their double standards on the law are clear. In 1976, when Joe Gormley was president, the High Court ruled that areas had the power under snue negotiate the productivity bonus, with the permission of the then right wing national executive.
Now the national executive have given us permission to take strike acnavidual arcas against pit closures. the courts have ruled that it's illegal.
What should the rest of the unions be doing?
They should be considering strike action port, because if the NUM oses its case they would be the next to be attacked.
There've been guide lines issued by unions to respect picket lines but it's a bit early to see what effects that will have.
What about the decision to fine Scargill personally for contempt of court?
I could respect their decision fining him for contempt they made similar ruling on the Lord Chief Justice. He was Radio 4 before the High Court made its ruling giv ing advice on how to deal with the NUM.
He was just as much in contempt Arthur Scargill. Nothing has happened to him.
Defending agreement reacato at tnt Decl ning of the strike ne said 'What's essential is the steelworks kept in tober) outside Sainsbury's, rested collecting for previously supporters. This is political policing.' mass by selling food.
WAICH wholeheartedly backing our struggle Keeping stee plants keeping them workinu were awar iwo different things.
THE HACKNEY Miners' Support Committee organised a mass collection last Thursday (27 OcDalston, where two members of Hackney Young CND had been arthe miners two weeks Polly Vittorini and Tom Silverlock, both supporters of the youth paper Revolution, were arrested and charged with obstruction. Tom said: "The police are obstructing the miners and their collection people raised The Miner, NUM newspaper, and collected 2 large carrier bags of
Socialist Action 19 October 1984
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Collectors arrested