• WE STARTED organising at the beginning of the strike. One or two of the wives got together, initially to write a letter to get published various newspapers because we d been so angry about the COverace.
'The letter was published. the publicity around this letter we got things moving and decided 1o form a support group. So we advertised that we were holding weekly meetings.
•We had meetings in Barnsley and had women all arcas around Barnsley. So we helped them set up their own groups in the various areas.
Lorraine Bowler, Barnsley Women Against Pit Closures 'At least 30 women are now organised in Barnsley surrounding areas. We've got a kitchen set up in the Civic Hall to feed the miners and kids. Women also organise welfare rights sessions in each area. and we put on Easter parties for the kids.
'Then well Notts and we saw there were a lot of women there, but split up behind each banner, so looked like women weren't represented.
'That's why we decided to hold a demonstration in Barnsley, to show just how many women were organising around the strike. We wrote to the NUM to ask TOT speakers and Scargili and others came.
'The feeling that day was incredible, I don't think it will be recaptured for a JOLL time. The Notts women in particular got a tremendous reception.
'We've also been on picket lines. On one occasion some women went down to Notts and found gramme of pit closures. the others hadn't arrived. They went the pit but WCIC rounded by police were a rescu.
'Some women were kept in custody for hours. In that time they weren't even allowed to go to the toilet. One woman wet herself.
'Another woman had knocked a policeman's helmet off and was put in handcuffs for assaulting a police officer. cuffs were so tight that her wrists were Diceding 'I can honestly say that I have never seen so many women politicising as fast as I have in the last few weeks. mobilised: they domfinancial tary were ed in This be for the tirst time.
There shaky when the NUM were We must said they continue area-bydecision. choice was right.
al. MINERS STRIKES MAERDY 1954 -SAVE THE • PITS
Bristol
c/o TGWU, Transport House, Room 1, Vietoria St, Bristol BSI c/0 FTAT. 37 Anson Rd.
Preston
c/o John Parkinson, Trade Union Centre, St Mary's S Norin. Preslur Huddersfield c/o Friendlv and Trades Club Northumberland Si. Huddersfield Vauxhall c/o Joan Twelves/Gres
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Miners' Miners' Support