My view is that it will hasten privatisation in the Notts coalfield and the problems will really emerge for the breakaway organisation.
Incidentally, the rule about the national rules superseding area rules is not that's. been in the rulebook since 1944 in the model rules, so to suggest that that's the reason Lynk's supporters wish to themselves trom the union is absolute nonsense that's been there all the time.
The confusion that I mentioned earlier - you spoke about an organisation being built up in Notts io arrest the breakaway — are you referring to the Notts Forum?
We are looking at the loyalists to the NUM: the Forum is one aspect of it.
We've had meetings with represenStatives from all the pits, every pit in the coalfield, who wish to remain in the NUM. And we've discussed with them our strategy and how the campaign will develop, with rallies, meetings, leaflets rather than newspapers be related to each pit, rather than a generalised thing for the whole of the coalfield.
We will be working intensely during AueySt and September. ment, holidays in create certain problems, but we will be dealing with that.
into Notts in order to miners to stay in the NUM?
women in the coalfield, groups. confusion as _Io They're they plans... be done. when we've we've got the come. backed him up the Post describes him NUM's arguments to be fought out. distance union newspaper, happy from democratic.
elected him disposing of him.
not 'democratic'.
leadership.
he's far from being democratic. At the moNottinghamshire Do you intend to put national resources persuade the the We will be having meetings throughout the period; we will be making arrangements to have discussion with the We've and the cam- nock. paign will be developed around loyal WONCES support What should the NUM members in Notts actually do themselves? The ones at pits who have got hold of The Miner I know have been distributing them, but this hasn't got all the way round yet. as far as I've heard. But there is some campaign. very concerned to gel word from the national union, so that what do isn't cutting across national We've got a very close relationship with the representatives of branches, and it's important that the representatives nave meetings with loyalists at the pit. It's at that level that the work's really got to We're pretty confident that got the leaflets out and distribution network operating, those problems will be overThe main thing we've got to kill is the confusion, because there's been that much poison circulated by the present leadership in Notts, and we've got to overcome that first and foremost.
Lynk - and the Nottingham Post has — has done quite a good job of persuading the Notts miners that he is the true democrat — that is how there are some quite straightforward The Nottingham Post is an anti-trade and they're quite to project the image of koy Lynk. I find their actions in Notts far Their dismissal of Henry Richardson was not part of a democratic process; the people who weren't invited to par ticipate in the merits or demerits of Getting rid of Henry Richardson was a decision by the Area Executive Committee who also had a vote in the Area Council, so those who convicted him also dealt with his appeal. That is The confusion that was referred to earlier arises because men in Notts are not being kept informed by the present There is a small caucus of people who are controlling the attairs of the area. So-the Nottingham paper will say that Lynk's a democrat, but Turning to the broader labour movethe Nottingham trades council has passed a resolution that's similar to one which the women's groups recently passed. And I know that there are resolutions going through various Labour Parties in support of the NUM and the Notts miners remaining loyal.
also had a statement by KinWould you like to comment on what the rest of the Labour leadership should be doing?
Well, obviously we've been concentrating on the Notts situation, and Notungram trade umons. The trades councils have passed resolutions and constituency parties are now getting involved was part of the origina campaign approach within coalfield.
Obviously, we've had discussions with the TUC and also with the Labour because, constitutionally, Lynk breaks away they will lose the recognition of the TUC, and, in consequence, the recognition of the Labour members tatives in Nottingham - whether they be MPs or local councillors — - is that if they remain loyal to the NUM then we will continue to sponsor them as we're entitled to do. They're not sponsored by Notts, it's the national political fund that sponsors Labour Party candidates in that sense.
We will be looking to the TUC to reaffirm its earlier decision that the breakaway can't be recognised, we'll be looking to the Labour Party to exert pressure on ine consequences or disaffiliation.
I take it that you're correct in what you say about the Labour Party, but Concannon and Haynes have actually made!
Miners picket at Port Talbot statements to the contrary, haven't they?
I was speaking to Haynes in the House ot Commons and i told him that we were eager to retain their presence in the the miners' group. point that the overwhelming majority of miners in his constituency thought that Scargill would throw them out. I was able to reassure him that this was not the case, and events have proven that. recognise that there is a role for them within the NUM, and as sponsored members of parliament, but in the end the decision is theirs The statement that Kinnock made al the Durham gala was a help in that it was a call for unity. But I don't think that a statement is really enough: it would be a great help if prominent people within the Labour Party actually supported the campaign actively. you say what sort of things you'd like them to do?
We've had discussion with people on the NEC of the Labour Party, and we will be looking lo positive declarations, and indeed, an identification with the campaign to retain Notts as part of the NUM. Similarly with the TUC General Council; we would hope that many trade union Haynes made the the NEC that other ship that them more Larry available ing to run for, holiday period?
That's also, with the TUC Peter Heathfield leaders would be identified with our campaign, and many have already committed themselves.
Going back to the campaign in Notts, is that going to be organised from Sheffield? What sort of input is the national union going to have?
The national leaders and members of will be identified with the rallies and meetings, and the local people will be organising them. We hope prominent leaders will share plattorms with u across the coalfield, so that we remove the doubt and misunderstandings.
What do you expect Kinnock and the Labour leadership to do?
I would expect them to clearly declare their support for the NUM, a longstanding affiliate of the Labour Party. And I would expect both Kinnock and Hattersley to be closely identified with the campaign that we are conducting It's important to the Labour leaderwe retain a substantial influence in Nottingham, and hopefully win some of the marginal seats in that coalfield; so it's important that they are closely identified with us in the camSo you'll be asking people from the Labour leadership and the TUC to come down to Nottingham to speak al • public meetings and so on?
would hope that they'd make themselves available. I would hope that Whitty would lake himself for the meeting Il's a wonderful opportunity to create a platform for people like Whitty, who's But of course, it's early days yet. Hor long do you think this campaign is gogiven that it's still the would think September will be a crucial month of activity ...
of course, the TUC. Do you know if Lynk and the breakaway have any plans around the TUC? I'm aware that they've communicated , and the TUC will give them the traditional answer.
Socialist Action 26 July 1985 THIS YEAR, 1985, marks the Kenya to own womb' of doctors non cinc frauds. In Switzerland a recent attempt to