KAY SUTCLIFFE, a member of Kent Women Against Pit Closures, was involved in the 1972 and 1974 strikes helping to organise food parcels through the women's network that existed at that time. In this strike she has helped organise the first women's demonstration in Coalville on 23 March 1984 to challenge media reporting that gave the views of women in the scab areas and ignored those of women who were supporting the country, the Women Against Pit Closures movement was born in August 1984, an autonomous women's organisation in support of the NUM. Never before had women in Britain, not organised at the point of production, built such a powerful movement in support of a Kay's speech below was SOCIALIST ACTION International Miners' meeting held in Penrhiwceiber on Saturday 16 February 1985. THIS government is launls allack not only on the mining communities Dul oll lie worklig class as a whole. You only have to he in tang communny to understand why.
I have a particular sonal link with Penrhiwceiber because TaLner was born here.
Along with many MELICIS trom Wales ScotYorkshire the Midlands, during the 1930s these men were forced out ot these coalfields to find work elsewhere. Our coalfield in Kent was formed amongst these men who travelled many, many miles on foot in order to make a future for themselves and their families.
That's why we're fighting IO our communities Our lorelainers nave loucatior this. These Our coal field in Kent was formed from amongst these men who travelled many, many miles on foot to make future for themselves and their families.
are our right — we deserve fight every step of the way lo ensure code co There is point in saying that there are jobs elsewhere because we know that there aren't any jobs elsewhere. When they have put all the miners on the dole what will be the consequences?
Mv father was a miner The suffered very accident at snowdown (Kent) colliery. This meant that ne was unable to work after his accident even though his mind was very active and willing.
He wanted lo go to work but it was practically impossible. my waterco arm sunci during his last four years in utter torment because he wanted to go to work.
This is the kind of thing we don't want to see — our Out of this demonstration and others all over the made at the Second young men suffering years anu yeals because they want to work, wall this country alive. They do not wall lO on the dole queues for the rest of their ives. Ihev are not idle mer despite what they would have us believe.
We have seen many atagainst the miners. CONmunities. Many tactics have •cen uscu the Coal Board the governCUL security payment. The press and the media have been used against us and Arthur Scargill ticular.
He is not the NUM personally, he is just a leader and one of the best leaders that has ever had. If the rest of the trade union movement naa leaders like Arthur Scargill, we wouldn't be in this position We've seen a back-to-work movement that hasn't been successiul despite the figures that the Coal Board puts out on the television.
What these men doing? They are getting paid to sit on the pit top, they're paid to make cups pea, paid toe not hepit top. not being paid to work.
It's a waste of time and money. The real men are on the picket lines. They're not scabbing on their workmates.
had the police we ve thrown against us right from the beginning of the Men in Kent have their civil liberties taken away.
weren't allowed of the men in Kent have links with men in Leicester first did their picketting.
Because of these petty restrictions on the move. ment of miners' pickets we the have SOCI TOICS Prenow on the picket lines and the men are in the kitchen. helping to feed the families.
When we consider the police activity against as — the wav thev iiddle about with film clips to show that it's the miners that are causing the violence — we Defend *he KEEP FIGHTING the FIFE ORGANISED BYTHE AGAINST PIT CLOSURES