The letter circulated jointly by the Campeign group of MP's and the National Union of Mineworkers in defence of 'Sacked and Jailed Miners' can be used widely in the labour movement to really get a NATIONAL amnesty campaigo off the ground.
It is just what is needed to really begin to mobilise broad forces to raily behind the NUM's calli for a general amnesty for well thes The letter points out that 'scores of miners and some supporters remain in prison following the NUM dispute. The men, from virtually every coalfield in Britain, are enduring prison sentences ranging from months to years. 'Of key importance is the need to maintain maximum outside contact so that their spirits and their families are not allowed to sink.' Arthur Scargill, Peter Heathfield and Mick McGahey on the other side of the leaflet point out that 700 miners have been sacked by the National Coal Board. 'Despite all reasonable arguments lan McGregor refuses to reinstate them. Most have been dismissed for trivial or no offences and the majority are union branch officials whose crime was to fight for jobs and mining communities.
Their statement "welcomes the assistance of the Campaign Group of Labour MP's in bringing this message to you.' The list of proposed initatives at the end of the leatlet urges supporters to make donations, organise benefits and support meetings; pass resolutions; write to all Labour MP's; visit the families of miners; ask MP's to write to jailed miners; write to local The photos on this page are taken from Unfinished Business which can be obtained at £3.00 (plus 34p p&p) from the Acorn Press, 240 Water Street, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 GQP. Limited edition only - order now. leaflets have been sent to CLPs, trades councils, and They Coll tain a statement by the as a letter from argill, as well letter from Heathfield and McGahey, and it names all of the imminers The Campaign Group has over 1,000 requests for speakers and will respond to all efforts to publicise build support for the fight.
The rally at party con ference this year will b given over to this issue.
vital regional rallies meetings are organised soon as possible. SERTUC Kent NUM organised a rally on 18 JuIy around the demands toT reinstatement and release miners, which will be addressed by rule change that would membership in the union.
dreadful Arthur Scargill.
But Arthur Scargill has stuck to the promises made by the executive women during the strike and will be proposing that the conference adopts the clause that would allow women become 'an associate member wnc shall not be eligible to vote recieve benefit, attend meetings (except by invitation) nor hold any specific post in the unions'.
This limited concession is likely to be the focus of a lot of controversy for now the most ›owerful sectio NUN Yorkshire, has added its weight to VOLC down the change. This reflects the pressure that is on the militants the pits in the wake of the defeat of their 12 month long battle for jobs and the fact that the gains of that battle under attack both within the NUM and ine labour movement as o whole.
Kent NUM has stood firm over the issue of involvement in the union. Both at the beginning of the strike and now will defend the position of the national executive The women's support groups in inis area have been allowed to send representatives to branch meetings and were allowed to keep their own funds.
This has meant that the women's organisation and women's organisation and confidence has increased Large stake numbers of women have decided to join the Labour Party although the local party officials in the area seem to have been reluctant to let them in - fearing their socialist ideas, according to Sue Bence, , the secretary of Ayelsham Women's Support Group.
Jack Collins, Secretary of Kent NUM puts it this way. 'We think the strike BEA CAMPBELL must have had a shock when she heard that South Wales NUM were opposing the give women associate brought new forces into play. Everyone said the women did wonderful job. It was that was true was then we should build on ana go forward. We should recognise the organisation of the women as a positive, progressive development that should be supported.' This is why it is vital that the left backs this rule change in Sheffield this coming week. It was onl to sustain the strike for as long as it was because of the commitment and enthusiasm of the support groups who organised community as in a wat operation to everyone fed and mobilis ed the battle againse i cages.
The courage the women on the picket lines confronting the police for the first time in their lives should not be forgotten. Nor should the dedication of women be forgotten, who had never previously been actively involved politics, to defend their communities and the Na. tional of Mineworkers whatever the press threw at them this rule change would deny But it LuIS would do more than that it wowd mean that womel everywhere would be encouraged to distrust the labour movement.
The miners challenged the rotten class collaborationist traditions Labou leaders. The also challenged those traditions by entering into an alliance 1n their com munities and outside. To go back on the commit ment they gave to give women associate membership of the union when the strike was over would be a betrayal not only of women but of the working class as a wildle
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She had projected the South Wales leadership, in her articles after the strike, as less 'macho' and more syinpathetic to the demands of women that the