'THERE IS NO way that this trade union is going to become a signatory to an agreement to close pits and axe jobs. That was Arthur Scargill's declaration, rejecting any agreement which would involve the NUM in policing the NCB's attack on mining jobs and communities.
The unanimous vote of the NUM national delegate conterence throw out the government-TUC proposals for pit butchery - is a magnificent tribute to the movement which has been born during the miners' strike. It is an inspiration to the entire labour movement.
strength of support for the miners was demonstrated yet again in London Sunday, when marched to Trafalgar Square. The failure of the NCB's 'back to work' movement was clear again at the beginning of this week.
Monday's return but less than the 8-10,000 the Board had expected. The NCB's claim, that nearly 50 percent of miners are back at work, is a lie. Twenty percent of miners never joined the strike in the first place, and the clear majority of those who came out are still out.
Press and television claims aside, the strike is not collapsing. The reason for the return to work this week, yet again, is the treachery of the TUC.
The attempts by supporters NUM's position on pit closures stands in stark contrast to their complete failure to deliver 'total support' for the miners. If Willis had shown even a bit of the energy in implementing congress policy that he's shown in negotiations with and MacGregor, the strike would have been over months ago was significant, at this time. teachers, attacks and a fight for wages.
Willis and his away the which stands in the way.
As the congress policy of But if the TUC are trying to isolate movement. the miners, other groups of workers are finding themselves going into struggle Local government, local authority manual all facing governmen keep the The call to open the second front, alongside the miners, is not an idle one. be firmly rejected. There is a real possibility of inflicting a decisive defeat on a government whose support is visibly slipping away. It is the refusal of the TUC to wage a serious campaign to defend jobs and services ship have economic policies of the government run into more and more serious trouble, nobody can be in any the country, doubt that the TUC and Labour Party action, leaders will, in their majority, continue relusing to wage a real Dalue on any front. The answer to the Tory attacks must be initiated by the left in the The next big action to support the miners must be Democracy Day on 6 March. This can be the occasion for a huge display of strength by the labour movement. The attempts by the TUC to miners out demon- TUC strations and actions on that day must miners.
Ine unity or the movement in action is vital if the Tories are to be defeated. This means the miners must be at the action. centre of every action planned. Over the last week, the miners and their leadergiven a magnificent heroic lead to the movement. They have mobilised thousands of activists across support committees, in demonstrations, and on picket lines.
As a fresh round of battles with the Tories opens, it is urgent that every step is taken to organise that support. The militants and the members of the NUM must see that the TUC is not capable of isolating them.
The NUM should now start the fight for a national solidarity conference which can answer the treachery of the and organise support for th Such a conference can also build for a massive Labour Party-TUC demonstration in support of the miners and to plan continuing the solidarity Despite the new attack launched by the TUC, the miners are still continuing their battle. The NCB is not going to get a viable resumption of production even al pits where it has a cheved SOME return to work.
The NUM has shown it is continuing to stand firm. The rest of the labour movement has to organise to deliver the support Willis refuses to give.
2 Socialist Action 1 March 1985 AcTioN