FROM THE earliest weeks of the miners' strike women have been very centrally inmoney.
their own marches and mittee, told us about what they have been doing and how she sees their activities.
seat. Until this time when we reauseo we nao to do I had a holiday something, it's just While the snowballed.
I didn't expect to have thought the phonecalls I've had requesting me to speak at the see. meetings. People are ringWing up from all over wantWe what we specifically miners' wite to come and speak. do, said We've been speaking at a lot ot meetings. anc they've been really The one at Lambeth WaN the second really big meeting l've done.
The first was at County Hall. I was really worried they I didn't know what to exEver pect. Once 1 got up and started speaking was alright, but Bob Morrison, My is the He was me and said a lot of what I the week was zulle to say.
Nevertheless, said hat another what had prepared thing. because there was no point in me trying to change it, I didn't anyone only speak about what I knew. 'Will you Sparked had At Lambeth, which ourselves. organise had was found a bigger meeting. easier, even though it was nerve wrackgive advice on ing. I stood up and started anything. speaking and got really inWhen back volved in what I was saythough ing. great been no Then Greenham came hostility all. fact in to what I was saying. I didn't have that down on SUNC of the my paper. I said to my husmen up that band afterwards: 'I don't know where that from.' I'd said something and it sparked it off. last strike the women tended to sit back, WYCI to do collec- organise a olt or catering. tions, but an or going on marches with awful lot there their husbands. We didn't they was KnOW We weren't involved with the Annette the vice-chair. Maybe it's not the union's fault. but going ery back ten years to the last morning big SuKe wonder didn't information have a voice. It's tells them stice unal time. Women realise that they know a lot what She's I've never been involvinvited the ed in anything like this before. We've one of mittee women's section at LNe cary. But it is purely a anel beginning. secretary:
We've not elected social thing, playing skitcommittee, because we tles, organising didn't want to have private dances. committee meetings. We We've also organised just elected officials to sort the kitchen and the food out the business side of it. distribution between the But everything else goes to three Kent pits. We feed every woman that comes the children from Monday to the meetings, for them basis. Some or the mentore Saturday, lo accide I don't think people helping to clear up have ever heard a miners' I think the hardship of wife speak before. We've the strike is being covered always taken the back UD. I think there are a lot of proud people here, who won't tell you that they are really in need. Everyone up now appears to manage, bul tere are a lot Now know Some do opof DUPE • Ve always the argument.
think the for women. Unionwise the men all-women situation.
a particular them.
the lead. it's not always the because women let them, but it's got change.
to the iament women But don't think work there.
down But he's mining I'm rights Bu equality is thịng, can't see involved the committee, this time. MINING WIVES SUPPORT THEIR MEN els NATIONAL CMINEHORKERS ]KENT D AREA DI BRANCE
Bristol
c/o TGWU, Transport mouse Room 1, Victoria St Bristol BS 1 Tel: 0272 293001 ex 55 Preston /o John Parkinso Ivorth. rrestol Huddersfield c/o Friendly and Trades Club, Northumberland St, HuGgersheld Vauxhall /o Joan Twelves/Gr ucker, 1 Alverstone Hs Kennington Park Estate, LOnGON DEII Southall c/o 14 Featherstone Rd Southall, London Birmingham c/o Trade Union Rescource Centre, 7 Frederick St, Hockley.
Ealing c/o West London Trade 1 Club, 33 Acton High st. London W3 If your local support commit• have no address for it. Send it in!
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volved in building support. In many areas women's groups have worked hard setting up food kitchens and distributing hardship
In Kent, the miners' wives have become involved in many other aspects of the
speaking at meetings. KAY SUTCLIFFE, chair of the Aylesham miners' wives com-
Miners' Support Committee