The pickets from Laurence Scott would like to thank all who contributed to the Christmas appeal for monies and toys for the strikers' trom the Steel, Sheffield and Stockbridge who them provided a toy, a selection box, f2 bag of sweets, and a f10 voucher for each of the They also brought turkeys for all our Christmas dinners which went down a treat. In addition f10 for each picket to be spent on a little Christmas spirit.
Let's hope the new year brings all trade unions behind us in our fight for jobs at LSE MINERS will vote massively for strike action ш еш D ot ooo anuary in pursuit of thei claim for c100 minimu for surface workers. Whether the pits actually do come to a stop will require the sort of campaign which lead to Arthur Scargill's massive election triumph.
Ine miners will be voting on an executive request for a mandate for ac tion. A 55 per cent majori ly is requirea This guaranteed. special delegate conference Jus before Christmas bačked the proposal with only three voting against. The mood in the coalfields is such that even the spokes. people for the right wing had to troop up to the plat. form to pledge support.
At present basic pay for surface workers is only £80.85. The Coal Board's offer would give them a magnificent £87.80. But as many delegates to the conference this creasa already been eaten away the effects of Chancellor Howe's 'mini let alone the effects of inflation.
But more than simple arithmetic is required to mobilise the miners for victory. Everyone knows that miners strike challenges the existence of the Tory government Many will welcome such a challenge WIln an enthusiasm match the cringing of the right wing eaders or une Des Dutfield: 'Get off our knees movement The miners' strikes of 1972 and 1974 against the Tory Rips oi man wea mil the of many a militant speech.
Des Duttield, vice Prales area summed it u the South best when declared 'It's time for the British miners to decide whether put up or shut up whether we join the broad retreat of the last two years off our knees and tell the board and the government we are ready fight them and the political savages them.' achieve this, the argument will have to be pressed a Yodres. The suc in the pits and lodges. cess of the Presidential campaign showed that the tactics of 1972 when 'fly ing pickets' where sent out from Yorkshire to many of the coalfields prior to the action can still pa! dividends.
The Tory politica savages will use wild threats and attempt wreak real carnage. Rank and file vigilance and understanding is the only wav meet such behaviour.
Socialist Chiällenge ' 7 Januäry 1982
etter! your correspondent collapses into complete sectarianism, in addition, he also collapses into inventing facts.
Firstly it is not true that when the police moved in, all the best stewards were on the Right to Work Martact GIuV tew