proceedings Rothesay. We will carry a report of the conference in our next issue. issue of six-day speech at the Yorkshire miners gala.
PROMISED I wouldn't be controversial and I'm not. You wouldn't have forgiven me if I hadn't made reference to the six day week proposal of British Coal, to the nine hour day proposal and to the controversy raging around a mine that's not been opened called Margam.
the mining industry that wants to see Margam more than I do. I fought in 1982, within one week of my election, with the then director Phillip Weekes in Wales, to open Margam which had been promised by the 1974 Labour government.
They told me they coman t go ancaa because there wasn't the demand at that time and that were geological problems.
They have the audacity today to tell me that their plans and projections that they said were correct then are no longer valid.
claim Margam, with 650 men producing one million tonnes of coal, can't make a profit in five days, 2,250 men prodda with Durham today, with million tonnes of the same coal, they make, before interest, a profit every single year.
They have managed to get this controversy raging in this union. Jack Taylor has spoken of the fact of the Yorkshire arca s position, where you stand now and where vou will be standing after the meeting with the Board at the ena oi this month. I'm not going to be one to shy away from where I stand on this and other issues. I'm telling you thạt absolutely clear that they're Below we reprint an excerpt on the using Margam as a sprat to catch a mackerel.
They want to see this union accept the introduction of a six-day working week and a nine hour working day, not at Margam but at every pit in Britain. Yes, they want to close another PIls and axe another 25,000 jobs. I'm urging against any extension of the tive day week.
Reason If you want one reason opposing the six day week, read the history of our Our toretathers fought a most historic battle to win the introduction of the five day week.
Even the prime minister in 1908 who brought in the Hours of Work Act, said that was unsafe unhealthy for mineworkers to work in this industry for more than a five day week. it it was unhealtny, and un safe and unwise in 1908 l'Il tel vou wnat the policy ot this should 1987, it shouldn't be even talking about a six day week, it should be fighting for a four day working week.
The Coal Board really carrying out attacks day by day on this union. It's not merely the question of the Six das working WeeK. it's the disciplinary procedures that they have unwalcrauv #rtoonced.
Realisation Did you realise that the Coal Board today dismissing miners for incucubs uial nay or llay nul occur at this gala in Barnsley today? They have already dismissed a miner for an incident in a public house in the centre of the town. How much longer can this union accept such draconian measures?
Action These reporters in Fleet ignored that fact, but l'll tell you that on Thursday of this week the national executive commitmend that our union at the Halola concente mer days' time, take industrial withdrawal disciplinary procedure.
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THE issue of six-day working has dominated the of this week's NUM conference in
working from Arthur Scargill's Let me make it clear that there is noone in or out of