attack THROUGHOUT THE miners' strike, Roy Butlin, - one of the leaders of the Coalville railworkers who refused to shift coal, warned that Coalville would be victimised for their principled stand in support of the miners. He often added that the losses incurred during the miners' strike would be used as the excuse to carry out line and depot closures which were already part of British Rail's local closure plans.
Only six weeks after miners returned to work, Butlin has been proven right. Last Monday informed Hallasel shop stewards that 11 jobs were to go by 13 May, including nine shunters, guard and a driver.
Menu of the meeting, the side orcca a paral reurcal but only saved railworker's job.
Coalville men won't be he only victims. The workers al depot *ho were divided over the miners sinike are lo lose serween 60 and 80 jobs.
As Butlin told Socialist furion: This proves that mating doesn't save your 10b. Management draws up its plans to cul Jods lo suit them regardless MuCH WUIKCIS CUlaborate with them. he same thing will happen in the pits.
These job losses were not unexpected. men returnéd to full working after the miners' strike, to find train crews from Leicester, Bescott Management is doing nothing other than using its age old tactic of divide and rule, setting one group ot workers against another competing for jobs. Plans clearly ulluci way transfer work away Coalville so there will be no basis for keeping the depot open.
Butlin explained: 'The miners tell us that the over, but the dispute not. the same for us. After weeks or pain and nara ship, Coalville men are not ready to sit back and see their depot close.
'These plans nothing other than punishment for our loyalty to our We fought against harrassment of our members before, and we will do it again.
"The one day strike in Scotland against the loss 1200 jobs Caley souks let Glasgow should know that just handing over a 4.8 per cent rise 'criminal' offences during fought for their jobs, backed up by the apparatus of the state.
Kinnock and Willis too must share the blame. They more than most in sure that no went to jail DY MODES ing the full support of the whole working stop pit closures.
National Organisation Miners Prisoners and Supporters (NOMPAS) has been set In OI the prisoners and to campaign win their freedom.
Against the VIeW or the miners which THOSE MINERS locked up in prison cells must feel pig sick when they hear Neil Kinnock saying he's not in favour of an amnesty for miners who committed The real criminals aren't the labour movement militants who but the government leader Neil Kinnock is peddling, NOMPAS secretary X111 Seige, Martin Walker makes it clear that thesi are ordinary working class timised by the state and the "The campaign against the miners was an exhibition of state violence,' he Days 'orchestrated state criminalisation of an organised section of the working Thatcher used the courts and the ponce to solve a pontical problem.
The miners prisoners because they are trade unionists - and we There are now between 50 and &0 NUM militant in prison. Some have been released after serving short DCITCHCO still awaiting trial. But many The latest issue of The Miner national levy ballot wasn't operase tre member ship voted against the sacked men. because many saw the levy would discourage the union from mehting hard for reinstatement of the 600 miners sacked so far that they refused to support the levy.
Local areas have already started to arrange pit collections to support SATION the sacked men and their families while the reinstatement fight on. It is vital that the rest of the movement responds the NUM's call to give these militants support.
'The labour movement responded to the imprisonment dockers in 1972, but failed to do so in tne case or unt Shrewsbury buiding worker, Des Warren, jailed for conspiracy to inMartin Walker.
"The movement let the Shrewsbury workers We don't want down repeat that.' The number of trade unionists victimised as a result ol this dispute is higher than the British labour movement has experienced for decades.
NOMPAS to begin publishing a newspaper in a few weeks time. They are pressing for prisoners committees be established in every area to support the relatives of campaigning on amnesty.
To make its point, NOMPAS is planning national march in June in support or an amnesty for the militants who are victims of the lory state • The National Organisation of Miners Prisoners Supporters can be Road Kings Cross, Lon don N1.
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The Third Socialist Action International Miners Solidarity Meeting Saturday 20 April NIGO