For a year over 100,000 members of the national union of mineworkers, their families and supporters, in hu. Scargill marches with dinnington miners in 1984 rally. Brenda, liz and chris stood by their husbands when they went on strike in 1984 and their days on the picket lines. Original miners poems from the strike 1984 1985 i have a musty old box of poems collected by my dad. We have been collecting your stories and memories of the strikes. One of the more evident aspects of this contradiction is the way in which miners, and their supporters, have remained silent about what they know of some of the hypocrisies of the bureaucrats who. James mccarthy remembers the 1984 miners strike that devastated south wales, crushed the num and left. In 1984 5 the miners went on strike again because the national coal board, which was in charge of all british mines at the time, planned to close several mines, with the loss of over 20 000 jobs. The miners strike lasted a year and was one of the longest and possibly most damaging industrial disputes ever seen in britain. How does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. Remembering the 1984 miners strike that devastated south.
In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 1984 5 was the longest national strike in british history. One recent grey afternoon i visit the site of the old shirebrook colliery in north east derbyshire with a former miner, alan gascoyne. The miners lost the strike 1985 num return to work the strike became a symbolic struggle arthur scargill questions who started the strike. Macgregor chairman of the national coal board said yorkshire would be the first to. The miners strike 198485 page 4 of 18 politics the. Gascoyne, a forceful 59yearold exfaceworker who swears a lot, was the branch secretary of the national union of mineworkers throughout the strike of 198485 and until the pit closed. Apr 01, 2014 remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. In 1984 5, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlon. During the miners strike, thatchers secret state was the real enemy. An article about the 1984 miners strike in wales, on the bbc wales history website.
Against all the odds is a collection of poems published by the num in september 1984, written mostly by miners or members of their families. It was very different to 1984 more of a community support group, not very political. The book also includes discussion of issues and lessons arising from the strike. How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. This is literally a missive from the coalface and is quite a harrowing account of the daytoday traumas of the striking miners in an area where most miners broke the strike. During her time as prime minster, thatcher put the falkland islands under british rule, after defeated argentina. A timeline of the 1984 miners strike, made for a parents evening perview for billy elliot.
Miners wages had not kept pace with those of other industrial workers since 1960. By the early 1980s the collieries were losing money. Thanks for watching 11 january 1938 born in leeds, west yorkshire british politician joined num in. The miners strike is unlawful because a union ballot was never held, a high court judge has ruled. Wales and the 1984 85 miners strike 9781905762453 by hywel francis and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. One of literatures greatest strengths is its ability to take us inside the subjective experience of history into the heat of the miners. London as striking miners challenged her grip on power in 1984, prime minister margaret thatcher secretly considered calling out the. Jan 11, 2009 video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. How many people did the 1984 miners strike affect answers. The miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 upi archives. The miners strike of 1984 85 will always be remembered in british working class history as the most significant turning point in the power relationship between the working class organisations of the trade unions, and the state representing the interests of the privileged minority in the late twentieth century.
Andy davies meets strike veterans taking part in an anniversary exhibition who, despite the outcome, have fond memories of the event. The story of the miners strike, 19845 as want to read. Aug 25, 2009 the miners strike started in south yorkshire in march 1984 and continued for a year. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the. The queen reportedly broke royal protocol to criticise miners strike in the 1970s. Between march 1984 and march 1985, more than half the countrys 187,000 miners left work in what was the biggest industrial dispute in post. The nationwide strike was a last attempt by the mining unions to save the industry after the national coal board announced 20. Image caption in some areas almost all the miners went on strike. Loss without limit is a great read for anyone with a serious interest in the topic. The miners strike in 19841985 by annesofie wraae on prezi.
Exploration of memories of the causes of the coal miners strike of 1984 1985, focusing on the fear of unemployment, loss of community and loss of a. My dad was a sly old git when it came to the unions and strikes, he. Nov 17, 2011 my first year of work was in 1984 and therefore i recall much of the drama of the miners strike, which was really a turning point in uk history. The newspapers in this collection provide an insight into the key events and chronology of the 1984 5 miners strike. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. A picket throws himself at a police van in an attempt to stop the bus carrying working miners, from getting into ellington colliery november 1985 17 of 24. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. Having lived through the strike as the son of a miner and the nephew of 7 other miners, all from the same pit new herrington in the durham coal field the strike brings back a lot of bad memories, and a lot of funny ones. Memories of the 19845 miners strike from jenny dennis, who was married to a kiveton park miner. The 1972 uk miners strike was a major strike involving a dispute over pay between the national union of mineworkers num and the conservative edward heath government of the united kingdom.
Mar 12, 2009 how does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. Support the guardian available for everyone, funded by readers. The power to reverse this process of decay lies in the hands of those who are on strike or are contemplating the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The legacy of the 1984 5 uk miners strike by dr katy shaw the uk miners strike of 1984 5 was a defining moment in the history of the united kingdom, one that not only. Claims of police malpractices during the miners strike in 1984 were undoubtedly justified the only issue in doubt is who was. Thirty years ago, margaret thatcher branded striking miners the. Untold story of international help in 198485 miners strike. The story of the miners strike, 19845 1st by ian macgregor, rodney tyler isbn. The conservatives lost the election, and the new labour government gave the miners a big pay increase, ending the strike. Mar 05, 2014 in 1984 south wales miners joined a nationwide strike. The queen broke royal protocol, criticised miners strike. The anecdote comes after the unlikely claim the queen mother supported the later miners strike in 1984. Media in category uk miners strike 1984 the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Such was the divisive nature of so much of the news reporting of the 198485 miners strike and media concentration on picket line violence that there was often little coverage of the remarkable solidarity shown by the international trade union movement. The miners strike of 198485 will always be remembered in british working class history as the most significant turning point in the power relationship between the working class organisations of the trade unions, and the state.
Miners strike 30 years since the pit crisis of 1984 channel 4 news. Jul 15, 2009 see key moments from the miners strike in south yorkshire, for a year from march 1984. The miners strike of 1984 1985 was one of the most bitter industrial disputes britain has ever seen. The strike only began to crumble when the ncb offered miners various pay incentives to return to work before christmas. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title uk miners strike. During the strike the miners and their families displayed. On 3 march 1985, the nums executive narrowly voted for a return to work. But we kept it together, so when it came to 1984 we already had the basis for a group. Miners strike 30 years since the pit crisis of 1984. South yorkshire during the miners strike, august 1984.
One recent grey afternoon i visit the site of the old shirebrook colliery in northeast derbyshire with a former miner, alan gascoyne. The story of the british miners strike of 1984 5, told in weektoweek detail, illustrated by photos from john harris and front pages from the socialist press at the time. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike. A dedication to the men and women who fought not only for the right to work but in the pursuit of a. Jan 11, 2007 the miners strike of 1984 85 will always be remembered in british working class history as the most significant turning point in the power relationship between the working class organisations of the trade unions, and the state representing the interests of the privileged minority in the late twentieth century.
Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 0 london following is a chronology of events in britains miners strike, the longest major labor dispute in the nations history. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social club, founded in 1920. International support for the miners strike 1984 85. The miners strike 198485 thompsons trade union solicitors. The result was the general election of 1979 and the victory of a conservative government under britains first female prime minister, margaret thatcher. Hundreds of picketing miners lined the streets at the steel works, letting. Two separate groups of mineworkers from yorkshire and derbyshire went to court in an attempt to have the dispute declared illegal. The yearlong dispute saw the national union of mineworkers take on the government in 1984 over pit closures. Photographs from the great miners strike, 1984 85 9780951065 and a great selection of similar new, used and. Mar 08, 2009 a quarter of a century ago britain was split by its most bitter industrial dispute ever. Besides newspapers the collection includes a small amount of cartoons, postcards, posters, pamphlets and photocopies of material on miners wives. These interpretive literature on the 19845 british miners strike is described and evaluated under the following headings.
I came away having learned a great deal, and i can honestly say i enjoyed the experience. The miners strike of 19841985 was an attempt by miners to stop the national coal board ncb and the government of prime minister margaret thatcher shutting down collieries mines. The 1984 miners strike and the death of industrial britain duration. The 19841985 miners strike newspaper collection archives hub. The government announced on 6 march 1984 that 20 collieries would close. The miners strike 198485 the 1984 strike followed on from the disputes in 1972 and 1974. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. May, 2009 in may, 1984, ravenscraig steelworks was at the epicentre of an industrial strike of seismic proportions in scotland. Trade unionist who opposed arthur scargill during the 198485 miners strike published. Far from the miners strike representing the end of class struggle, it provides us with a wealth of lessons to prepare for the new battles which have already begun. Arrogant met officers soured long friendships during 1984 miners. The yearlong strike involved hardship and violence as pit communities from south wales to scotland fought to retain their local collieries for many the only source of employment. The miners strike 198485 police, protests and public.
In the aftermath of the devolution debacle, the labour government fell on a vote of no confidence defeated by one vote the snp having voted with the opposition. The miners strike by mark harvey overdrive rakuten. Even one of its key architects in wales then num official kim howells described the 1984 5 miners strike as an unwinnable struggle. The decadesold feud that still divides communities. Thatcher debated using military in 1984 miners strike the new.
One miners incredible true story of deceit, betrayal and back stabbing during the miners strike of 1984 by ken ambler, simon ambler, et al. A page dedicated to the memory of the kent mining communities and the 1984 85 miners strike. Twenty years after the miners strike of 198485 new class battles are today being prepared in britain. Miners strike 30 years since the pit crisis of 1984 youtube. She also forced miners back to work with no pay during the miners strike of 1984 and signed a treaty about the future of hong kong with the chinese in 1984. Bbc south yorkshire history your miners strike stories. The strike, with its mass pickets, provided a vivid illustration of the power and confidence of shopfloor union organization that had. Thirty years ago today, miners at cortonwood colliery in yorkshire walked out in protest at plans to close their pit. We formed our miners wives support group here in aylesham at the time of the 197274 strike.
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