NEIL KINNOCK has stated his intention to continue the scabbing role he played miners' strike. His statement last week that the NCB should only reinstate miners who have undertaking legitimate trade union activities and who have not been guilty of any serious offences is treachery to the victimised miners - and to the NUM's fight to defend jobs in the mining communities.
Over 700 miners were sacked during the strike. Others have been victimised since. There are over 2000 court Every single one of the charged faces the threat missal by the NCB.
The position of the labour movement, and the Labour Party, on all these cases without exception must unambiguously be victims of class war, are class war prisoners, and are class justice.
The movement fight for total amnesty for all the miners sacked as a result of this strike, and for full support for the political prisoners. We should make distinctions between sacked for 'serious' offences and others. Every single victimisation was of miners fighting not only for their own jobs but for those of the whole working class. They are fighters for our class who deserve our unconditional support.
What makes the hypocrisy of the Tories' defence of order' even clearer was explained by Tony Benn last week when he pointed to the amnesty granted by the Tories to lan Smith and his supporters as part of the settlement of clearly the Rhodesia' problem.
Countes
been without exception.
outstanding.
miners of dislutions of that they are the victims of must trials.
one of them.
from hardship those restore their job.
law labour movement.
Smith's racists were guilty of mass murder, executions of African leaders, horrific against the people of Zimbabwe. They were all pardoned always, show a loyalty to their class which Kinnock never shows to his.
We can expect little of the leaders who scabbed on the strike, but Kinnock now proposes to scab on the victims as well. The left must ensure that the labour movement does not allow this to occur.
The miners' support committees should take as their chief task raising money for, and getting resosupport through all sections of the movement for, those who have been victimised.
Trials
Many of the trials in the coming months will be turned into show We must campaign in support of the victims at each and every The families must be protected Labour must pledge in its manifesto that the next coverell will pardon each and every single miner and The fight to commit the movement to support those sacked, and those imprisoned, is a key task of ensuring that the miners remain at the centre of the struggle of the trade unions and Labour Party. It is also part of the fight to settle accounts with the traitors in the The strike is ended but the fight
• Amnesty for all... Amnesty for all... Ar Scots Labour conference miners' return to work.
Not surprisingly the •irike dominated 010-cedings dis angry.
LTIC Clarke, speaking on the emergency NUM resolution isation, explained that 240 Scottish miners hau been dismissed so far. 'Reinstate ¿very one' Talking about the miners said: Our slogan, to take over that of the GCHQ workers, is that we are still fighting on.' Clarke called Wheeler, the Scottish NCB resignation i cd director Reflecting attitudes towards the ano miners' wives movement, conference gave Clarke its longest and most enthusiastic standing ovation.
After first major speech to the labour the first conference of the labour movement after the movement after the strike. delegates gave him a cool reception.
Fife delegates, including wives, made a silent protest. They turned their backs on the stage, and posters on their backs said: We are turning our back on you, because you turned your back on us.
Ellen from Fauldhouse Women's Support Group expiamed Ine protest. 'Eighteen men have lost their jobs at Fauldhouse, 18 should get their jobs back. She conucinca Kinnock's speech • LU the describing his call for a selective amnesty as 'a betrayal' Glasgow Herald, commenting on the conlast between ine receptor of Kinnock and Clarke's said: 'The halfrales hearted response Kinnock received was in stark contrast the standing ovation given Clarke...He must be concerned at the lack of imDaCI which could not be put down entirely to the simmering hostility hall.' Resolutions on cnegy policy and civil liberties provided hooks on which on the miners was hung The grcalest cheers came or a speaker from TASS who crucised the reaction of the rest of the movement to muners 'We gave iron rations to troops in the front line and what they needed was reinforcement.' He made an appeal for the 16 March Labour Glasgow for an amnesty in the Scottish coalfield.
slanolng ovation was reserved for a young miner Monkton liery Edinburgh rS. 'We are,' he said, at the end of the beginning.
What was boar beginning? 'We are at the beginning fight for socialism in Britain. Scargillism from some quarters in the movement. But what means standing fighting. And nobody can take that awav from us In the debate on civil liberties dared to repeat Kinnock's stab in the back miners picket Soberline, made last Party conference. All the resolutions unequivocally attacked the police designated all violence in the strike as the respon sibility of the Ther demanded police accountability Since miners' strike, the whole debate on the police and the state has substantially shifted to the left. Stormv applause greeted the recommendation all the resolutions • which vass then went through virtually unanimously.
So, the desire to settle accounts with Kinnock Willis for the role in the was there, reflected in But, always when the ARCO leadership, in trouble, its Scottish components close ranks.
Almost unbelievably, Saturday's Scottish press was full of the story of a McGahey, NUM leader, spelled it vul. 'I pleased that the Scottish miners are inviting Mr Kinnock and the genera secretary of the TUC in ill demonstrate And demonstrate solidarity as a movement.' Asked discontent over Kinnock's role in the strike, he said: 'I have dispute with the leader of the Labour Party.' And, at the preconference briefing for the left, Scotland's LCC, ment behind Kinnock was the lesson of the miners' strike. But, explained LCC spokesperson, this alliance would have to be defended in the conference - first of all against the miners!
Security the conterence was indeed tight. Guards were employed Close scrutiny was made of all credentials. Only a side door to the hall was used Miners lobbied delegates were firmly kept out. The delegates WIU made their silent protest at Kinnock's speech had their posters ripped off and were "evicted by security guards.
Conterence was allowed • to let off steam. Many fine words welc spoken.
the abiding image is of th and Norman Willis to lead the gala of those they betrayed.
This political orientation was reflected in the only other major item of party campaigning — local government. Resolutions from the Scottish executive for the fight against rate. capping regardless of illegality were firmly rejected.
'Labour leaders were clearly tenevea inat the Part had ted to re policy non-compliance with government-set targets, including resisting budgets the courts, but had pulled up snort law-breaking, said The Scotsman on 9 March.
Kinnock got through his first test by the skin of his teeth and the aid of the leadership of the Scottish NUM. The LCC provided the guard required to keep conference in order but at the cost of considerable strain, even to the ultraflexible backbone of the Scottish TUC.
Their line has created a wave Scottish labour movement. colland William Brash, sacked miner from Bilston Glen I WAS sacked for breach of the peace - struggling with the police on a picket at Bilston Glen last July.
Like the others who „nave been sacked, couldn't class that as serious offence or sackable. Between Bilston Glen anu Monkton Hall, two pits in the Lothian coalfield, there have been 117 sacked, and the total is rising.
Up till now 63 of these have been from Bilston Glen, and 14 from my own centre, Mayfield near Dalkeith — out of just over 100 strikers I was sacked because the management didn't want me, or people like me, active in the industry. They Photo: G M COOKSON But the Scottish labour leadership still has to hold its breath until has passed the hurdle of the 16 March amnesty demonstration.
thought that once they got the people active on the picket line out they would get everyone else back at work But even at Bistor Glen, even at the end, there were still 600 on strike. The Coal Board were claiming 1300 back at work - they must have been counting the guard dogs security men!
There have been 117 sacked in two pits alone in Scotland, alMore men are getting letters all the time.
Albert Wheeler (the alca director) wants to make a name for himselfhe wants to be the next • MacGregor:
But so many miners have been sacked that it's obviously been victimisation. And the fight goes We'll be fighting till Ull. every single sacked miner is reinstated
----- pull-quotes -----
OUL Socialist Action 15 March 1985 The Scottish Labour Party Conference on 8, 9 and 10 March this year, often sets the scene for the annual round of labour movement conferences. This year it was
FOR A SATER LISA