been almost wallOs" jected by the NUM's natonal executive and by a Serenae in Deceaber. The special delegate INONS incoming president, Arthur Sargill, conducted his campaign on a pledge to carry our conterence decisions on wages and conditions. In the coaltields. feeling most miners is that the ofter is in tact a pay cut when inflation running at around Is per cent.
As Alan Harrison from Markham Colliery, North drop.
The NCB and the Tory find Lac llselves in a cleft stick. With the memory of February's strikes against pit closures, and remembering the sirikes oi 19!z and 19/4. they do not want a head-on conon anon wu ut NUM. But big concessions could be the green light fol ole secio ol worker: suzey ıaaı v. ing standards.
Neither can the union afford to be complacent. ne bul -ned ae. Board's ofter. reject the Coal But bils the threat of strike action enough Sualt the NCB into giving way. But unless the leadership prepares action now, then bluff alone will win venv tue. The 1972 coal strike started with unofficial SLODDaes anlu delegations from militant Yorkshire lalilile ihrough the neighbouring coalfields.
The fight against pit Closures was the same. this time with South Wales and Scotland taking the lead Arthur Scargill militant area and branch icauersuips SEOUEO be