REPLACING IAN MacGregor by Michael Eaton is a desperate gamble by the NCB, at a critical stage of the dispute. It is clear that the NACODS' strike call is likely to be widely supported. moderate Leicestershire area executive committee voted unanimously to instruct their members to strike by NACODS 700,000 tonnes of coal a week which the CEGB is currently getting from the Coal Board. Eaton's appointment is a major retreat by the government and the NCB, in an attempt to avoid this development.
NACODS WalLs the appeals •OOV have wider terms of reference than simply pit closures. If the reference to closures were removed the body could consider the ques tion of investment in a pit belore l was run dowil If the board can get talks before Thursday NACODS will almost certainly call off the strike.
This now looks a strong possibility.
Such an would be a considerable compensation TO Y replacement of lan MacGregor. It would give the government a chance to recoup SUIC of the ground it has lost since the breakaown the last ACAS talks.
Eaton's arrival, however, does not mean that the NCB is about to give in. Ine central Issue remains, the main enemy will still be the NUM.
Eaton is likely to drop the attempt to get agreement on what constitutes "uneconomic', and instead trv tor agreement on wnal constitutes exhaustion.
He is suggesting that an exhausted pit is one where coal could not be brought to te surlace al all accep.
table price. In short, they have changed the singer Even the very would eliminate the not the song.
The change however is in the context of an effort the advance of the NUM. MacGregor told a meeting of directors Derbyshire last June that he wanted see the leadership the NUM defeated, rather than a quick return to work.
The situation is much more favourable to the NUM NOW The government is still pursuing the twin-track strategy. On the one hand they have the courts waiting to sequester the NUM funds. On the Eaton allows the NCB to La more conciliatory face. The reason for this is that the Tories now want the labour leadership come to their rescue.
cost las them £3,300 million so far, and they are not yet ready to write off what Nigel Lawson called thwhile investment for the nation' This sum is the equivalent of nine years subsidy to the NCB by while NACODS would bring the end of the dispute a great deal closer, it is clear fight on, and that it is winning. The government preparing the ground for The st ec a cockr ted by Neil Kinnock, to intervene The labour leadership should give no credibility whatsoever unest moves. They do not represent a withdrawal of the pit closure plans.
The NUM must be left completely free with the Coal Board. The task for the Board. labour leaders is stepping up the solidarity.
The silence of the general council and of Neil Kinnock the High Court action is unaccep table. So too is their lack of response treacherous role of Eric Hammond in the phones ballot of EETPL members. This action was an open undermining of congress decisions.
Now that they have conciliatory approach coal talks, the Tories will step up the pressure via the They hope to frighten the TUC with the consequences of the strike, while giving Kinnock Basnett et al an opportunithe role of mediators.
Of course; if the 'fair and reasonable' advice of the mediators is not ac cepted, this will "prove that the NUM unreasonable. The answer to this strategy is to step up the efforts to sup port the NUM.
Victory is within our grasp It must be made plain to the leadership that their job is not to get in volved in mediation. It is to deliver action. MINERS Socialist Worker