MINERS A FIGHT® TO THE FINISH | Socialist Action 1983

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PREPARE A GENERAL STRIKE! The breakdown of the ACAS -talks has confirmed what has been clear since the strike started in March. That there is no way the government can be seen to back down, or the most brutal strike since 1926 the Tories must win or the. backbone of the Thatcher government will be broken.

And if that was true seven months ago it is even truer today. If the Thatcher government is defeated by the • NUM after it is a goverrment without a confrontation scale, credibility or future.

* Exactly for this reason this government is never more dangerous than when cornered. For clearly than ever, the government is losing the strike.

There are two weapons to hand either of which the labour movement can use to win the dispute beyond question. The first, which would win the strike in only a few weeks, is for NACODS to come out on strike in line with their ballot decision -which, as we go to press, NACODS national executive is delaying. The second is for guidelines on the power stations to be implemented.

It is exactly for the reason that it now feels so threatened that the government, through the courts, is even comlegal attack.

High

tack.

this today, more to the finish. - a move • A national the miners the TUC called by the NUM.

oing all out to try to break the strik he $200,000 fine on the NUM is ju a foretaste of the legal attacks which * if the High Court is successful, will be against unions • taking The power unions, the rail unions and the seafarers are all in line for a If it can break the solidarity with the NUM then the government can still win. Sequester ing the funds of the NUM under the Court order on 29 October would be the decisive step in that atThis is why stepping up the action by the labour movement in support of the NUM is a vital step to victory. The TUC statement on Monday night, -blaming the National Coal Board for the breakdown of the talks, is a step forward. But it is actions, not words, that are crucial. The entire movement now has to be mobilised to defend the NUM in what has now become a fight This means fighting for: • An all out strike by NACODS • Full implementation of TUC Congress decisions on handling coal - in particular at the power stations.

Party/TUC demonstration in support of the • A national solidarity conference • An emergency meeting of the TUC General Council to decide on general strike action if the funds of the NUM are sequestered on 29 October.

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Socialist Action ACTiON

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promise, with the NUM. Having committed itself to

miners' Thatcher Soldarity with the miners.