Amnesty It was a beginning to the campaign which has to be followed op with similar meetings platforms around entire there ones called tor t september and d mass lobby of Parliament called by the NUM for October.
• Copies of the national petition on amnesty can be obtained from the National nion Mineworkers, St James House, Vicar Lane, Sheffield.
For information on the campaign in the South East contact Jack Collins, general secretary of Kent NUM (phone 0304 206661). ANOTHER POLICE frame up collapsed last week when on Monday 15 July, the fifteen miners in the eight week long Coal House trial were found not guilty on TERRY LYNSKEY, Hatfield Main colliery, one of the defendants in the trial explained the events to Socialist Action.
*A small team of COSA • members Char mounted loyal, dedicated picket line outside the Coal Board headquarter:
from day one of the strike But despite two large pickets seeking support for the NUM the Coal House staff showed no loyalty to negotiating strength had secured such enviable wages and working conditions the clerical workers.
After the Orgreave, the relationship between police and pickets had seriously deteriorated.
At the same time Leon Brittan was publically advocating more severe charges penalties against miners.
26 June 1984 we deployed at Coal House.
The plan Was lu seek supshow sotharity with the solidarity with the loyal few who were out on This subsequently led 15 men to appear in Sheffield crown court. charges of riot and unlawful assembly.
A large gathering of pickets greeted the clerical staff 7.30am onwards. Many of these staff made their way past the pickets without any in terference whatsoever The police and senior NCB staff decided to marshall the clerks in the police station access road until police reinforcements arrived. They were then to escort them into the building behind a cordon of police. Crime This was unnecessary deliberately vocative. If they had been left alone, they could have gone in — as many of their colleagues had. It is clear that a very large number of staff went in without any police escort.
The pickets were mainhumoured, urging the staff to "support your 'stand by miners, it's your job as well as ours.' A small minority were shouting insults abusive remarks. I saw no physical violence or stones thrown. It was the heavy handed methods of the led to cupies and areas : that None of the 15 men trial were accused of atstaff The offences alleged the police bordered the probably secured Ilaeistl ales court if the All 15 of At a magistrates was added.
time, defenc conflicting evidence. the dictated, confident we would be acquitted of those ridiculous, malicious charges.
It was the fight for jobs which led many miners facing serious charges dismissal their jobs The number of pits closed since Police attack demonstrators at Orgreave the the thousands of jobs sacrificed, clearly shows LITe urgency to continue the campaign.
Sadly, many miners have learnt no lessons as a result of the longest strike history. Divisive VUl
Socialist Action 26 July 1985