the coalfields.
South Wales NUM
leaders are already winn1112 support coalfields to extend the action. president Des of Dutfield, the South VICE Wales miners, explained:
nOu and January, we will be working to turn this into a national strike. have dIC over this issue.
Arthur Scargill, NUM
presiket, would said that this strike spread 1ke throughout the As Des aiso explained: "We'll be looking for supporuns action rom other trade unions both regionally and nationally.
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London N1 2XQ LAST WEEK an area conference of South Wales miners called unanimously for all out strike from 17 January unless the National Coal Board meets their demand for substantially increased investment and recruitment in November ballot for strike such as WHELORIL South Wales.
Scotland, Kent and Yorkshire remain willing to fight.
BeSG areas are confident that the supthe areas can be won either by Persuasion or pickeung in a battle for jobs and the future of the industry.
In February 1981 it was the South Wales who started off the strike which spread several areas and made the Tories back away from their plan to close 23 pits. But today the danger is even greater and the Stakes arevery much higher.
In the next eight years, the NCB want to close 60 pits some of which are in South Wales. And 17 out of the 33 South Wales pits are classed short lite by the NCB.
The South Wales miners responded magnificently this to unel Jobs and communities by bold demands backed up by the threat of militant United As Emlyn Williams, the Wales NUM explained "The South Wale: coalfields will die unless we do something -LU get capital.
This year the coal board is planning to invest only £30 million in South Wales compared with £1,600m in Yorkshire. We are demanhave decide behalf of our children and also Mardy lodge voted 100 per cent for strike whether accept the closure of pits or stand up and fight for the investment, the new pits and the JODS the industry needs. I believe South Wales miners will fight for their future. It's fight or die.
This strike decision takes the miners struggle to a new and higher level a fight for the development and future of the industry.
AS Paul O'Sullivan from Trelewis Drift told Socialist Challenge, problems have beceme so go onto the offensive. This Siosuser this against pit closure. IS the IITSL BIne since Thatcher was elected that workers have gone onto me attack to de mand investment and jobs their industry.
By going onto the attack the miners are posing a big challenge to one of the main project of Thatcher's government SCOW in areas like South Wales, Kent and and simultaneously to weaker the considerable power of the miners.
For Thatcher to give in would be a much, much bigger climbdown than in February 1981. Therefore this could be lengthy one. Of course it is possible that Thatcher will try to postpone showdown by tactical retreat until after the election.
this would much harder than in 1981 diRe would substantial loss of face, giving the green light to other workers to go into struggle.
So as Paul O'Sullivan said: 'We are prepared for a long hard struggle this time. But we'll fight to the Des Dutfield tinish and win. he strik call has had massive backing irom pithead meetings following the area conTerence Evelyn Williams Emlyn Williams reported that over 80 per cent of South Wales not a traditionally militant the pit but there was a 100 per cent vote in support.
be At Penrhiwceiber member Challenge that suve meetings covering all shifts victory for the only miners voted against the strike Dai added:
NCB doesn' deliver the goods and it is very likely to escalate to a strike. Yes, onto the and we won't go back to work on the same terms as in 1981 At Mardy pit there was a 100 per cent vote for secretary Ivor The secretary England gave his view of the battle ahead is the Thatcher government's deliberate policy to smash public ownership and weaken the a miners have supported the muscle of the miners and relewis Drift is the strength of the workWing class. definitely a strike against South Wales miners and their leaders are very serious about this They have learned lessons mom me rate or ene steel industry where weak meant over 100,000 jobs lost in the last 10 years.
Escalation to a national strike together with support to orner unions will be necessary, and the Dai Davies, area executive this with the supput of pil determination Socialist Arthur Scargill Most important of all a miners by have defeating Thatcher's policy for the coal industry *This strike would change the balance is certain to go ahead if the of class forces to the advantage of workers against the Tories. It would create national the best conditions for the we are going return of a Labour government which would then be pressure to satisfy the aroused expec tations of its supporters to implement workers and Lodge not the bosses.
It is therefore vital for socialists to go all out to build massive support for the miners' strike in the trade unions and Labour Party. The miners must win!
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they are wing ids that willing to strike
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