AFTER ALL the fine words expressed by miners during the 12 month long battle against pit closures about the magnificent role of the women's support groups it came as a bitter blow that the NUM conference decided — by one vote — not to give the support groups status.
The successful resolution, giving honorary membership, to be awarded either by the conference or une execute. the same as the executive's proposal Honorary membership will be given onlv to tne few, not to the many thousands of women in the suppon gwup s wau experienced political activity for the first time in their lives became the backbone of the struggle against the coal board.
Betty Heathfield war one of the women who went to the conterence to resolution would have given official the Women Pit Closures Movement. 'We were very disappointed a roo women' she said. sorts of different excuses offered the women.
*The Yorkshire said that it wasn't phrased in the right way for them hat it was open to too wide category of associate members. The Welsh delegation tried to tell us tnal women Wales weren't in favour of "We got the impression that it had not been discussed through in the branches, said Betty. In fact the dominant impression given to the women lobbiers was delegates were rather emTHE COVERAGE of the historic miners' strike has necessarily concentrated on the work of the NUM itself, on the women's action groups and the support groups that sprang up all over the country. But the miners, and nowhere was this more impressive than at Coalville where the railworkers stopped all movement of coal throughout the dispute.
The new Socialist Action pamphlet, written by associate membership barrassed by the way they mandated to vote atter al that women nad done during the dispute.
'The general outlook seemed to be that it was rather a lot of hoo-ha about something wasn't so important and that delegates were confused about what associate membership status meant. There was also very element that said we'd done a good job in the strike but patted us on the head and suggested back into the cupboard® that we should Linda McDermott, another of the wives on the lobby, nil back al lest arguments saying that the 'women communities had proved themselves the NUM than the scab members in Nottinghamshire • Women obviously felt that they had given a lot to this deserved associate membership in return.
'Associate membership includes voting rights for women, no right to attend meetings, explains Betty Heathfield. 'It would simply mean • tha we could go as visitors and observers to national conference, have joint educationa schools. and we've already got our office the NUM headquarters ir Sheffield.' ment. Indeed BR went to the lengths of trying to establish that one of the striking signalmen was mentally unbalanced and Photo from 'Unfinished Business', by Phil McHugh available at £3 from Acorn Press, 240 Water Street, Accrington, Lancashire BBS 6QP The women feel that it was short sighted of the delegates to vote the way they • did because associate membership have meant that if the women were needed again battles coming up with the Coal Board they would be there in an organised way They are not daunted all by the decision however. Rather Betty approaches it as a spur to organise.
"The women understand why it's important to have this recognition of We want to see joint schools, joint discusmatters is that even without this backing it was possible for workers take the power of decision into their own hands where they actually work ed, and do it themselves.
that is exactly what the Coalville workers did, not waiting for anyone's permission and take action, doing so in the full knowledge that they might very well be on their own. sion with the men in the about the whole spectrum of women's pro blems in society,' " she said.
enlarged for the igustin shereed ference is being City Hall with room fol 2,000 people. Draft pro posals have been drawn up the organisations of the Women Against Pit Closures Movement. "Honorary membership is no good because you can't have thousands of honorary members,' plains Betty, 'We want to encourage all those women believe that the Labour and socialist movement in strong They would never be doing so if they really thought that we were as weak as they pretend they are. to join us who didn't get involved during the The composition of the Women's support groups will also be under discussion at this upcoming conference. At the moment 75 miners dependents and 25 per cent not Some women want to throw the groups open to all women. Others want it to remain mainly miners wives.
But all the women want the movement to remain broad based to keep the links that were made during the strike. Fees and discussed constitution Wil be conference as well as the crucial question of building support for the sacked imprisoned The women know that they were and still are part closures It is many ot the of the battle against tat have laken the ins that have taken itiative in campaigning for an amnesty now that the strike is finished, despite the dreadful hardship that their COnmunities because the debLULS claim what was not paid nave moved in during the strike The women are going to organise win this battle and the left in the NUM must give them packing to ensure that th next NUN reverses this decision.
As Marsha Marshall Dartford Main explained: 'We are not threat to (the men) or the union, but we played a big part in the strike and it was about our future as well as theirs.
Everyone who takes a stand adds to that strength and helps to build the majority support that we need to get rid of our oppressors and lay the foundation for Socialism In Our Time. during the 1940 Cinera
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story would not be complete without an account of those trade unionists who gave full support to the