creates real problems for a Thatcher's problem.
continue the political support of The Thatcher governwar would have But instead the TUC and Kinnock openly losing, outburst of an economic crisis but with of miners struggle against the Hattersley is to the right SOUTH WALES AREA NUM has amongst the most solid areas of the strike. In recent weeks the press have tried to imply a weakening of the strike in the area and divisions with the national executive. REDMOND the facts about the area and his views on trade union and Labour Party solidarity with the miners. I HAVE always thought that we were involved in a of attrition. In that war the communities have way they have rallied round We bitterly disappointed at the attitude certain particularly in the power industry where they can't get coal they are using enormous quantities of scab oil against the TUC guidelines.
We've SCCI that Aberthaw power station Cardiff where transport union drivers are a picket line but to cross a picket but to cross without even acknowledgPicket at Aberthaw remained O'NEILL DAI ing that it's there.
It's all very well for us to criticise rank and file members, but if there's no Phs TU then the trade TUC, the trade union leaderships - her they are just going to carry The least that have been done is for the Liauc ullull porting the TUC decisions caucis suv to allow us to go into the power stations and talk to their members.
If myself other miners want to go into a bace like Aberthaw, which picketing, and talk to the members of the TGWU, AUEW and so on, we cannot. We are not being given the opportunity to explain face to face to the • rank and ille workers what our strike is all about.
Even the officials of the unions which say thes carrying out TUO guidelines don't give us that opportunity. This is the case throughout the country.
The truth is that the national leaderships are not leading and this percolates right down to the rank anc file members. , Literature 1s being circulated but that's nol sovu clouzil as lal a we're concerned. Our opinion is that in the leadership were sincere in their support then they would have their full-time officials down on the picket lines alongside the NUM Aberthaw other power stations. Then they would be seen to be aoing something.
The rank file about members have given us outstanding SUDDOrl l he have been looking over their shoulders.
Kinnock wants to be seen as a moderate leader, someone acceptable to the right wing or lo middle people in this coun try. He is looking to th next general election.
But his criticisms are having the reverse effect. The only damage that has been done has been as a result of hesitancy to com out in support of the NUM.
Kinnock condemns the police You've never heard That cher condemn policeman We've had over 12,00 lads arrested, 60-odd now jail, and 600 have been dismissed from their OD. been charged with an Not one policeman offence committed on the picket line So as fas I'm concerned Kinnock's credibility is at an all-time low.
In South Wales I think we have been fooled in the past that only barristers or solicitors could be credible MPs. So we've got a lot of that type of people.
As an area we see it as important that we try to get t more NUM-sponsored MPs. We nave lads, whether they work on the coal face or the surface who are more than capable ot holding a position in th House of Common Miners are Labour Party. We've had recruits at Penrhiwceiber. I think locally we're at owr most buoyant in the Labour Party for 10 to 15 years We've got young lad who are coming into the Dall who, before the were not political have OCCl that this strike is political and ha been political from day
Socialist Action 18 January 1985 suspicion?
----- pull-quotes -----
DAVIES, a member of the South Wales NUM ex- ecutive and chair of the Penrhiwceiber Lodge, for