Information about mining unions from the 19th century onwards. Union of democratic mineworkers how is union of democratic. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the mining industry and. Aug 20, 2017 the strike was led by national union of mineworkers, the num, led by arthur scargill, and the action partially stopped coal mining across the country between 1984 and 1985. Union of democratic mineworkers to sell headquarters.
The miners federation of great britain formed in 1889 became the national union of mineworkers in 1944 and is still a functioning organisation today. The union of democratic mineworkers udm is a british trade union for coal miners based in nottinghamshire, england. The trustees of the mineworkers pension scheme have been made aware of an issue regarding recently member update discussions with the government. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. Jul 06, 2010 miners strike funded by east german communists.
He will be sentenced to prison, the judge told him. The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 1984 85. National union of mineworkers ensuring that its members. If you send us your gps coordinates, location on map will be 100% correct. The national union of mineworkers num was once the most powerful in the uk, boasting around 500,000 members. Union of democratic mineworkers and the 198485 miners strike. Roy lynks union of democratic mineworkers udm both clashed with. Britain new miners union the christian science monitor. Regulation l disallows certain types of interlocking arrangements with directors for member banks and their respective. Union of democratic mineworkers to sell headquarters bbc. New documents reveal true extent of miners cooperation with. Derbyshire striking miners union leader vindicated after. The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged.
Towards the end of the strike, many nottinghamshire miners broke from the num over the lack of a national ballot which they saw as undemocratic and formed the union of democratic mineworkers udm and have since been involved in numerous court battles with the num, mostly over finances. National union of mineworkers great britain wikipedia. Neil greatrex reflects on a career undergound and in charge of the union of democratic mineworkers. The main part of the study covers the traumatic events from october 1983 with the start of the national union of mineworkers num overtime ban, through the year long strike from march 1984 march 1985, and the eventual split in the num following the strike which resulted in the formation of the nottinghamshire based union of democratic. Apr 28, 2015 the long shadow of the british miners strike april 28, 2015 paul dean remembers the struggle he supported 30 years agothe great british miners strike of 198485, whose story is retold in a. Mar 04, 2004 the formation of the breakaway union of democratic mineworkers in nottinghamshire during the 1984 5 miners strike broke the monopoly of the national union of mineworkers. The scars left by the 198485 great strike for jobs are still raw in nottinghamshire, thirty years later. Amos, david 2012 the nottinghamshire miners, the union of. The former president of the union of democratic mineworkers neil greatrex was found guilty of stealing from a miners. Documents allege east german communists helped finance the 1984 85 miners strike in britain, say two historians.
National union of mineworkers great britain explained. Miners strike funded by east german communists telegraph. One of the regulations set forth by the federal reserve. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. National union of mineworkers politics and insights. He made similar progress in the communist party of great britain cpgb, being elected to its executive in 1971. Derbyshire striking miners union leader vindicated. Dec, 2017 he was also an official of the national union of mineworkers during the miners strike of 198485.
A few days ago, a miners union leader was convicted of stealing nearly. Following the formation of the union of democratic mineworkers udm in 1985even more emphasis hasbeen placed on the ghost of spencerism that supposedly existed inthe nottinghamshire coalfield. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board, a government agency. Union of democratic mineworkers to sell headquarters bbc news. This paper explores the democratic tensions within the national union of mineworkers that split the union during the 198485 strike over mine closures.
One of the main aims of this study is to give a clear and coherent view of the main events, and to examine the role played by the nottinghamshire miners in the strike of 198485. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. Stevens v union of democratic mineworkers d171516 ref. The uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry. Established in 1985 after a constitutional crisis in the national union of mineworkers, the udm was given its certification on 6 december 1985, although it had effectively been in existence. Documents allege east german communists helped finance the 198485 miners strike in britain, say two historians. The national union of mineworkers num is a trade union for coal miners in great britain, formed in 1945 from the miners federation of great britain mfgb. Union of democratic mineworkers belongs to category trade union in mansfield, united kingdom. Its birth was facilitated by comrades cyril ramaphosa who rose to be its first general secretary, james motlatsi who turned to be its first president, and elijah barayi who became its vice president and later the president of cosatu in 1985 when the federation was formed. From 19881994, she ran the nums cooperatives programme. Mick mcgahey, vicepresident of the national union of mineworkers for years until his retirement in 1987 at the age of 62, was probably the last of the genuine reds, but he never hid his.
The strike by the national union of mineworkers num was led by arthur scargill, although some num members considered it to be unconstitutional and did not observe it. May 09, 2008 neil greatrex reflects on a career undergound and in charge of the union of democratic mineworkers. What services union of democratic mineworkers nottingham section welfare and convalescent fund provides. A strikebreaker sometimes derogatorily called a scab, blackleg, or knobstick is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. In an extended interview with popular british singersongwriter and activist billy bragg on democracy now. Established in 1985 after a constitutional crisis in the national union of mineworkers, the udm was given its certification on 6 december 1985, although it had effectively been in existence since the nottinghamshire area of the num voted to secede from the federal union on 6.
The union of democratic mineworkers udm is a british trade union for coal miners based in. The national union of mineworkers is a trade union for coal miners in great britain, formed in 1945 from the miners federation of great britain. Set up in the dying days of the 198485 miners strike, the udm. The strike was led by national union of mineworkers, the num, led by arthur scargill, and the action partially stopped coal mining across the country between 1984 and 1985. Pit props, a new book examining the strength of international support during the. With the publication of seumas milnes bestselling book a decade later, the full irony of that accusation became clear. Oct 11, 2004 the demise of the num has been caused by the collapse of the coal mining industry and the damaging rift during the 1984 strike that led to the formation of the union of democratic mineworkers. The formation of the breakaway union of democratic mineworkers in nottinghamshire during the 19845 miners strike broke the monopoly of the national union of mineworkers. Miners union of scargill era is facing extinction telegraph. It was founded in 1982 as a black mine workers union by cyril ramaphosa and grew rapidly, winning bargaining recognition from the chamber of mines in 1983 51. Such was the divisive nature of so much of the news reporting of the 198485 miners strike and media concentration on picket line violence that there was often little coverage of the remarkable solidarity shown by the international trade union movement.
Oct 11, 2004 the national union of mineworkers num was once the most powerful in the uk, boasting around 500,000 members. The economy suffered severe strain from the costs of sanctions, administering apartheid, and military adventurism, especially in. The song, blackleg miner, is thought to originate from the 1844 miners lockout in the north east coalfield 289. Apr 19, 2011 this paper explores the democratic tensions within the national union of mineworkers that split the union during the 198485 strike over mine closures. In october 1984, a note on file shows that hart had called mrs thatcher alarmed at the fact that the press has reported his direct access to her, telling her he was infinitely deniable.
Last weekend, the new, independent union of democratic mineworkers won a 72 percent majority in nottinghamshire and a 51 percent majority in south derbyshire, two coalfields in the midlands. The second half of this study chapters 4 to 6 is a critical analysis of some of the theories that have been put forward as to why there was an unreceptive reaction to the 198485 strike in the nottinghamshire coalfield. The nottinghamshire miners and the 198485 miners strike by david amos. Dear visitor, if you are owner or employment of above company, please check your data. Feb 29, 2004 the leaders of the strikebreaking union of democratic mineworkers, which represents just 1,431 members, were criticised last night after it emerged that they receive pay and benefits of more than. Strikebreaker explained everything explained today. Kate philip was president of the national union of south african students nusas in 19831984, part of united democratic front udf which rallied 600 organisations against apartheid, and then joined the editorial collective of the radical south african student press union. After the 1984 85 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much smaller union. The leaders of the strikebreaking union of democratic mineworkers, which represents just 1,431 members, were criticised last night after it emerged that they receive pay and benefits of. Union of democratic mineworkers how is union of democratic mineworkers abbreviated. It was founded in 1982 as a black mine workers union by cyril ramaphosa and grew rapidly, winning bargaining recognition from the chamber of mines in 1983.
The nottinghamshire miners, the union of democratic mineworkers and the 1984 85 miners strike. Margaret thatcher branded arthur scargill and the other leaders of the 19845 miners strike the enemy within. Union stalwart and veteran of the 1984 miners strike who became a longserving labour mp. National union of mineworkers and 5 related entities. Union of democratic mineworkers full contact details for union of democratic mineworkers, mansfield, nottinghamshire ng18 4ju. It will also critically analyse some of the more negative and inexact accounts of their role which have painted them as the antiheroes in the 198485 strike. After the 198485 strike and the subsequent closure of most of britains coal mines, it became a much. Jul 18, 20 this document contains ar21 annual returns for the union of democratic mineworkers as submitted to the certification officer. Apr 08, 2012 but not for wrecking the miners strike.
The long shadow of the british miners strike april 28, 2015 paul dean remembers the struggle he supported 30 years agothe great british miners strike of 198485, whose story is. The former mp, who lost his seat to the snp sweep in 2015, who has died aged 69, was born in. In july 2019, chris cheetham, the scheme chairman, wrote to all scheme members to let you know that useful information. But with the decline of britains once strong mining industry especially after the bitter 1984 miners strike the union saw its membership dwindle. Union of democratic mineworkers and their duplicitous leadership. He remained a member until the cpgb dissolved in 1991 and then joined its successor in scotland, the communist party of scotland. After the events of the strike in 19845, the nottinghamshire area of the num was involved. Amos, david 2012 the nottinghamshire miners, the union. Derbyshire striking miners union leader vindicated after revelations of rivals secret meetings with margaret thatcher recent research finds that the union of democratic mineworkers. The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. Union of democratic mineworkers mansfield trade union. Opposition to the strike was led by the british government of prime minister margaret thatcher, who called scargill the. Policing and class consciousness in the miners strike by. National union of mineworkers labour union, south africa.
Aug 01, 2011 in the 1980s, he called for support for the 1984 strike by the national union of mineworkers, one of the most significant chapters in britains trade union history. Dave meuse, daw mill union of democratic mineworkers udm branch secretary, said. May 31 was the end of the 90day consultation period during that period we were on 60 per cent of basic salary. Having helped the tory government defeat the num, the notts scab miners then founded a union of their own, the union of democratic. National union of mineworkers, nottingham area, gedling branch. This document contains ar21 annual returns for the union of democratic mineworkers as submitted to the certification officer. The two most powerful trade unions of the time arthur scargills. There, the majority of the national union of mineworkers did not support their union, working throughout the strike, later forming the breakaway union of democratic miners. The nottinghamshire miners, the union of democratic mineworkers.
Cyril ramaphosa and the national union of mineworkers article in transformation critical perspectives on southern africa 721. The 19845 miners strike, the miners who scabbed, and the fate of. We advise to contact the union of democratic mineworkers to be sure about their location. Apr 26, 20 union of democratic mineworkers to sell headquarters. Cyril ramaphosa and the national union of mineworkers in 1984, black african townships in south africa exploded into popular revolt. Look back in anger by harry paterson overdrive rakuten. The unraveling of apartheid a massive strike by the national union of mineworkers, and saboteurs caused an increasing number of deaths and injuries. During the miners strike of 198485 the late ewan maccoll composed and sung a ballad entitled which side are. The num took part in three national miners strikes, in 1972, 1974 and 198485. But it was not the national union of mineworkers num that was out to subvert liberty.
Wcml mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners. With a membership of 300,000 it is the largest affiliate of the congress of south african trade unions. Untold story of international help in 198485 miners. The 198485 miners strike after a period of relative stability in the second world war and the early postwar period, the british coal industry nationalised in 1947 underwent a massive contraction from 700,000 employed in 1957 to 300,000 by 1970, as alternative fuels were used to produce energy. Mcgahey was, however, elected national vicepresident of the num in 1972. For more information visit union of democratic mineworkers. Union of democratic mineworkers nottingham section welfare. Our mining periodicals collection includes copies both of the miner, produced by the national union of mineworkers, and the udm miner, produced by the union of democratic mineworkers post 1985. Strikebreaking union accused of profiting from sick miners. The national union of mineworkers was founded in 1982.
Regulation l disallows certain types of interlocking arrangements with. The national union of mineworkers num is a trade union in south africa. National union of mineworkers south africa wikipedia. Union of democratic mineworkers nottingham section welfare and convalescent fund. The former president of the union of democratic mineworkers neil greatrex was found guilty of stealing from a miners charity. The bbc has referred to the strike as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history.
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