labour movement. friends.
to carry out its decisions. Bob Moody. Nottingham Area Executive, NUM talked to Andy Miller.
THIS conference was the most significant for a number years. It remains to be seen when we put the issues to the membership whether we get the right leadership to enable us to carry them through. ASLEF, the health workers and all public sector workers under attack from the Tories, it 1s time now for the miners to take a stand.
A number of other issues came through from the conference. Protection of earning. has been made a priority. This is a sore point in all the coa fields and it is long overdue. I am sure we can win the support membership on issues of protected earnings, in creased a four week and improved holidays.
Pit closures is another issue that effects all the areas. It is AFTER the TUC betrayal of ASLEF, eyes are now turned to the National Union of Miners to take on the Tories. The recent NUM conference at Inverness confirms the determination of the miners to do just that, and with added confidence now that they have rid themselves of the Tories' friend, Sir Joe Gormley With their new leader, Arthur Scargill, they are committed to strengthening the hand of the left in the Conference decisions to extend union democracy, like the pledge to elect full time officers every five years, is a beacon to every trade unionist whose determination to fight is sabotaged by the TUC scabs of Weighell, Sirs, Chapple and Duffy. This mafia are accountable to no-one but themselves and their Tory This week we print three contributions from miners. They explain to Socialist Challenge how they view the NUM conference and what will happen now not a parochial issue. Nobody can trust the Tories as far a uncy can unrow men die no d is safe. There is also the question of lob losses year we've lost 220 jobs. North of Notts prontable which just goes to prove that no pit is safe.
We also have to fight to develop new pits. ot the Vale of Belvoir where millions of tons waiting to be developed had a situation where a Tory controlled County Council and vanguard can whether we exploit the energy resources of the create thousands of jobs.
Again it all comes down to leadership, I'm not just talking about lne leaaersio these and national level. We've got to put it across to the membership day hat so long as a hit list exists so long as we are gelling Only limited investment, no job salc.
hi was a bream or res a amer trade unionism.
become democratic. made in the National Executive to the left wing areas which nave been supported the principle that al full time officials of the NUM years.
The details worked out and decided at nex years' conference. changes will give much more dynamic and in the last leadership in ine union.
right wing realise this.
Lancashire area implied that he was having nightmares about what democracy will do in the union!
I'm thinking to demand £115 minimum for veloped We surface workers, the board increases grades not settle with the union by the dictate first of November, there will be This will be linked to the de. country and mand for investment recruitment in the pits to create more jobs — it will be a package deal which the union will fight for There was a very strong feeling that the union against pit closures and to win more recruitment.
The National Committee will wage a massive Miners Ucla or nilalll First our union is going to on the need much more solidarity.
Changes will be
Committee to give tull weight Peter under-represented secretary of Conference also miners the should be elected every five ASLEF.
will now be The TUC These two the back. democratic The Sid Vincent, leader of the the Tebbit bill.
Second, conference decided will take across for other If the Coal Board does ballot for industrial action.
Emlyn resolution withdrawal much more on to the offensive demning annihilate Executive organisations.
National Ex- Clarke, secretary not just in their NUM is not but in other al cas happened șince 1974 and will have a big raise La camlike the There will be at stake in this campaign.
Vice PresiWales miners support by the rank and file this Miners from Tower lodge time, it will be given the green ight to the government and the There was strong emphasis for trade union An emergency was passed whelmingly in support of the train driver's strike.
Heathfield the the Derbyshire pointed out that the train drivers were fighting for survival of their union Miners were asked to join ASLEF picket lines.
• was called upon to give support, but instead they stabbed the train drivers in Emlyn Williams, President South Wales miners moved our resolution against This calls for trade union solidarity against Tebbit and demands that the Position in dord not aords. Pi position in 'deed not words' maustral achon lo defeat this legislation There was also discussion about international politics. A good Scotland opposed the US intervention in El Salvador and ahreats in Nicaraguttor Cuba. American attacks It also gave support to liberation struggles in Latin America moved an emergency demanding the of Israeli troops the Lebanon and conthe repression Palestinians and the attempt to their liberation He argued that the miners must stand up for the solidarity on an international level. Eric Scottish miners explained that the anti-semitic but must be anti-Zionist.
Finally Mike Griffin from Penrhiwceiber pit in South Wales question about the NUM's stance on military repression in Poland. Lawrence Daly, NUM National Secretary replied that the NEC is still trysend a delegation roland to meet rank and fe Polish miners and find out the Sador us said.
All in all it was a positive and inspiring conference.
Trelewis
ference.
MINERS_ FIGHT South Wales miners section on El Salvador Mineworkers demands THIS conference collective action if necessary.
of the United States and Cuba brutal picket hospitals in solidarity with health workers, Tyronne O'Sullivan is explaining PAUL O'SULLIVAN from Drift pit in South Wales was at the recent NUM annual con.
He spoke to Barry Wilkins about it of lobby of NUM Executive against pit closures NUM calls for action of the Union the Socialist Challenge 30 July 1982 page 7
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ANY FURTHER JOB LOSSES
ploit the wealth of the Latin American countries, and refuses to cooperate as observers at any elec tions conducted in El Salvador under the present CONFERENCE declares its solidarity with all
trade union movement in Britain to campaign on behalf of the suppressed people of Latin America.
MINERS. FIGHT ANY FURTHER JOB LOSSES
National that the trade union and
and its cohorts in El Salvador to the intervention suppression