BETTY HEATHFIELD is a member of the Chestermade at the LCDTU-called demonstration in support of the miners on Sunday 24 February. SISTERS brothers and friends, I think the doom merchants the mass media have excelled themselves in a last ditch attempt to persuade everybody that the miners must give in and go back to WUIN I've been going round the coalfield areas these past few weeks speaking at meetings that were packed out, crowded. The lads and their wives were saying to me: 'No surrender.
I think that we can congratulate ourse ver because we've won many viclones up till now. despite the wealth, the power, the resources and the relentless ampaign against us Ne've stood out for almost year. we've helped to wake up this slow ana laborious trade union movement of ours.
Where else can you get people coming to meetings, meetings about trade unionism, about Nevel before since World War II have you had such large meetings. And we've done that!
Never since have we got people talking abou lalking about trade unionism We reproduce below an edited version of her speech saying our lives must be aDol people. anu about wealth not about power. It's taken us a long time to wake you up but that's what we intend to do.
Make no mistake, Ine ve come everything. First we had the ballot and that died a little death. But we're still getting it every so often.
Then had the volence ano e coon | believe the things they were telling you about us. I hope YUU didn't believe them either.
They had to drop that one when it became very clear that there was also a lot of police violence. And it wasn't all from our side.
tried to sefunds. our wav they thought they would destroy Thank God we've got some thousands of supporters that didn't let us down and kept the money flowing.
We need that money. We need the support. We need help we need solidarity and it's got to be in a much more tangible way than you have done up until now.
Sisters and brothers, I'm saying to you let's celebrate the victories we've already won.
The young miners going back to work are very different from the lads that came out on strike. Highly articulate, intelligent and knowing everything they need to know about trade unions, political parties and this government.
The women have had the social political education that they could ever have. They would never have got that through meetings and books and MINERS' wives women in support of the miners have made close links throughout this strike, which they do not intend to give up.
Very early on in the wome mining communities visited Greenham Common to show active support for the struggle against the stationing of cruise missiles in Britain.
on, two Mine. not Missiles marches were organisea Jomuy by womel talks. They've done it in action and that's how we intend to continue.
Our move ment is here to stay. We've got our next huge coming up on 9 March to celebrate Day. On that day we'll be celebrating those liaisons and friendships have already made because we are the women: movement, montens working movement pledged to fight in tne struggle dallist every" thing that happens to us in mining communities We are helping in the Women's solidarity from the thA peace me tom Olit Capenhurst Nottingham, the other from South Wales to Bristol.
A huge women's solidarity movement has been built around the spearheaded Women Against Pit Closures. many committees women's groups now CAISI The idea of a women's solidarity conference came Gist Mineworkers Defence Camden fight for jobs - JODS IOI everyone, , not just jobs for a few. We're helping in the peace dispensible to ace indispensible our Dullesic We're helping in the local government struggle. against the cuts in education, against the cuts in the health service, against trans Doll Above all we are helping in fight for equality because we've played an equal part in this We'r very proud of that, and so should everybody else be.
Town Hall last December. valane. women have •taken on organising it for WHO-HON The aim will be to draw out the lessons of our dit. ferent struggles to tocus on joint action in the future.
• An open planning meeting for this conference will take nace on 22 March ir County Hall at 8pm. For further telephone Ellen 0203-395972, Valerie 01-249 2742, or Liz 01-367 0021.
Socialist Action 8 March 1985 11
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field Women's Action Group that is organising the rally this coming weekend, 9 March. She is also a leading member of Women Against Pit Closures.