I was a 11 years old french boy and I remember that french CGT union sent a truck with clothes blanklets and Xmas gifts for Kids to Uk and a beautiful speaking from the leader. "Their struggle is our, too" Sorry for my bad english....
l remember a few years before the strike there was a national vote on introducing a productivity bonus scheme. The national vote was against ,with only the Nottingham area voting for it . The Notts area then ignored the national vote, stabbed the rest of the NUM in the back and made a seperate deal with the NCB. So would they have come out in 84 even if a national ballot had taken place ?. As for the Notts men who stayed loyal to the NUM and came out, the bravest of the brave , hero's every one.
There where national agreements in the NUM,and local agreements,it's no good opting for one when you need the other really.Nott's was a highly mechanised coalfield with plenty of money on tap 24hrs,good faces,working conditions,plenty of money to be made by those who worked it,an area of high investment.NACODS could have more too,in fact if they had the outcome could have been different.If you look back in time,1984 parralells 1926 and the general strike,a catalyst even in Nott's case.
Lot of ex miners ive met over the years have always blamed NACODS. Said if they had walked out their would have had to be some kind of agreement.Anyhow the wicked witch is dead,lots of coal where she rots.From what i know of the General Strike,which admittedly isnt an enormous amount,the fault lay with other unions not striking and backing the miners
Local agreements in the coalfields gave local branches of the NUM to act as they wished on certain issues,without toeing the national line.More militant Yorkshire was always going to come out-period,Notts sadly had a history that goes back to 1926 and the Spencer union which broke away from the NMFGB as it was then,but many Nott's men came out too.Arthur relied on the glory of past victory at Saltley gate to carry him through I feel,a little.The miners never could have won,the odd's alone.
This is what local agreements get you,unless everyone's shoulder goes to the wheel.you may as well not bother.But check your facts,not all of Notts worked,many stood it out to the end,at great personal cost.
Looking back to be honest,there was only ever going to be one outcome,the tories and Maggie were under no illusions that they,d have a battle on their hands,Keith Joseph et al and all the advisors knew it too,and with the huge budget at their disposal and sustained campaign of rumour,lies,and all the rest of it,the million they spent on policing,paramilitary style policing,showed they meant in no uncertain terms,to win at all costs.The whole labour market now suffers for those times.
i think this is a great tribute to the men who fouhgt for there jobs,but,as we all knew they fought in vain.at least they can hold there heads HIGH not like the "scabs"who helped there defeat.ONE DAY WE WILL DANCE ON HER GRAVE
Look back at any footage of the day,read the books by certain accredited authors of the facts of the day,and you will see,many of Notts did come out,and stayed out to the end,at great cost to themselves,criminal records,broken homes,and all the rest.a percentage did not,but that was the same the coalfields through,and in any dispute anywhere you will find those who,ll unite,and those who will not.It is human nature,everywhere.
I was a 11 years old french boy and I remember that french CGT union sent a truck with clothes blanklets and Xmas gifts for Kids to Uk and a beautiful speaking from the leader.
"Their struggle is our, too"
Sorry for my bad english....
Anyone for the Colliery Club ?
l remember a few years before the strike there was a national vote on introducing a productivity bonus scheme. The national vote was against ,with only the Nottingham area voting for it . The Notts area then ignored the national vote, stabbed the rest of the NUM in the back and made a seperate deal with the NCB. So would they have come out in 84 even if a national ballot had taken place ?. As for the Notts men who stayed loyal to the NUM and came out, the bravest of the brave , hero's every one.
There where national agreements in the NUM,and local agreements,it's no good opting for one when you need the other really.Nott's was a highly mechanised coalfield with plenty of money on tap 24hrs,good faces,working conditions,plenty of money to be made by those who worked it,an area of high investment.NACODS could have more too,in fact if they had the outcome could have been different.If you look back in time,1984 parralells 1926 and the general strike,a catalyst even in Nott's case.
Lot of ex miners ive met over the years have always blamed NACODS. Said if they had walked out their would have had to be some kind of agreement.Anyhow the wicked witch is dead,lots of coal where she rots.From what i know of the General Strike,which admittedly isnt an enormous amount,the fault lay with other unions not striking and backing the miners
its al good
Even if a national ballot had been called and the vote was in favour of strike l still doubt it very much if Notts would have come out .
Local agreements in the coalfields gave local branches of the NUM to act as they wished on certain issues,without toeing the national line.More militant Yorkshire was always going to come out-period,Notts sadly had a history that goes back to 1926 and the Spencer union which broke away from the NMFGB as it was then,but many Nott's men came out too.Arthur relied on the glory of past victory at Saltley gate to carry him through I feel,a little.The miners never could have won,the odd's alone.
This is what local agreements get you,unless everyone's shoulder goes to the wheel.you may as well not bother.But check your facts,not all of Notts worked,many stood it out to the end,at great personal cost.
Looking back to be honest,there was only ever going to be one outcome,the tories and Maggie were under no illusions that they,d have a battle on their hands,Keith Joseph et al and all the advisors knew it too,and with the huge budget at their disposal and sustained campaign of rumour,lies,and all the rest of it,the million they spent on policing,paramilitary style policing,showed they meant in no uncertain terms,to win at all costs.The whole labour market now suffers for those times.
i think this is a great tribute to the men who fouhgt for there jobs,but,as we all knew they fought in vain.at least they can hold there heads HIGH not like the "scabs"who helped there defeat.ONE DAY WE WILL DANCE ON HER GRAVE
Look back at any footage of the day,read the books by certain accredited authors of the facts of the day,and you will see,many of Notts did come out,and stayed out to the end,at great cost to themselves,criminal records,broken homes,and all the rest.a percentage did not,but that was the same the coalfields through,and in any dispute anywhere you will find those who,ll unite,and those who will not.It is human nature,everywhere.
Let us all help to speed the day when this wonderful earth and its rich resources are held in common for the benefit of all humanity.
anti-capitalists unite!
Working Men and Women of all lands unite.