Camden Centre Bret WC)
Sunday Dec 2nd 11.30-5.30pm Scabs arriving at Killoch Colliery VICTORY TO THE • MINERS the strike. It is vital that it gets its politics right. VALERIE COULTAS looks at some of the issues the conference faces.
Nothing is more important in politics today than the NUM's battle to save the DILS. vital thai solidarity is increased and ana Laboul policy implemenica This means attendance the Mineworkers Defence London on 2 December is crucial for all those involved in the solidarity movement.
The was organised at the initiative of Labour Party members.
The idea the Briefing fringe meeting at Labour Party conference with Ken Livingstone, Tony Benn and The national forum created Dy the Mineworkers Defence Committee is a unique intiative. last eight months there have been many rallies demonstrations in support of the NUM. But this conference is a chance to consolidate the links between the NUM and the broader drawing together the activists who have been the backbone of solidarity WULK throughout the country So far it has been Neil Kinnock Normal Willis who have been grabbing the headlines as the 'voice the movement'. This Cull ference gives the rank and file and the left wing of the labour movement a chance to spell out their support for the miners.
Action not words must be the theme of this event. bul actvists confront three problems in order to achieve an actior orientation this conference.
The Communist Party, through Region TUC (SERTUC) une South East has refused to execuuve. sponsor the conference. It only sending 'observer', although Arthur Scargill speaking at South Wales NUM rally NUM sub-committee of SERTUC has agreca iu support the conference The enthusiasm of tne SWP for the conference presents the opposite pro. blem. Belated converts to working in the trade union ana Labour tarly sored solidarity movement Iney now want to take 11 over, expose the leaders including of the NUM and pit the rank and file One SWP against tien member went over the top 21 C suggested 'bureaucrats like Scargill' should be allowed minutes!
The Chartist Tendency are the tinal problem tha solidarity activists will confront on the day. One of its leading spokesper Chris Knight, lined up with the ultraleftism of the SWP and argued that a labour movement demonstration would let the leaders off the hook' and urged the Collullice stead to adopt a declara. tion that called for the removal of Kinnock and pronouncements troops joining unions.
This declaration was sent out to delegates by the against the ad vice of other members of It totally fails to come to grips witl the needs of the NUM anc the solidarity movement at the present time.
critical stage. The NUM needs support to win the not leftist phrase Firstly through massive Xmas appeal to raise money for the miners Photo: G.M.COOKSON and their families.
Secondly, through increasing the campaign around the power stations to ensure the lOU's promised at the TUC that can win the delivered.
Thirdly, to campaign for a massive labour movement demonstration in the early New Year, in support of the NUM, to make the leaders of the movement come out publically in favour of the NUM and its strike to de lena Jobs If Sunday 2 December these precise goals it will mark an important step forward in winning wider support for a battle that the British labour movement cannot afford to lose.
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National Conference Solidarity with the NUM!
ference on 2 December promises to be one of the big- gest meetings of labour movement activists during