Red Miner no. 2

| EDIT ORTAL

Amazing bit true ! Norman Willis, TUC boss, has got something right for once. He told the Welsh TUC at Tenby that the NCB was pursuing a.fruthless‘ | policy. He should have added that it was thanks to his treacherous efforts, ‘along with Kinnock; that the miners were isolated and defeated. ..The NCB are ruthlessly pressing home ‘the advantage of their. victory, finally: handed. t6 them bythe 98 delegates who voted for a return to work with no settlement.

i The NCB are pushing ahead on all fronts; NACOD's much vaunted deal with the .NCB:is proving to be a joke ~ a sick joke at that. Pits are being closed wo . without any reference: by the Board to the Colliery Review Procedure, The ! latest cléstires” to be announced in the North East, if pushed through, will : mean over 3 ,000 jobs will go. Yet already in Yorkshite, Scotland and South Wales, pits ‘have been closed since the end. af the strike. The butchery will - _ St&p: only if we can stop the butchers. 7

Not content with the 750 sacked during the sttike, the Board has sacked ; many others since the return to work. What's more, the sacked Lads wh& have i . - been elected to union office, are‘not being recognised by the NCB. We cannot even choose our owri representatives - and negotiators under the new dictatorial regime, ; Although the NCB want to Smash our oryanisation, they are not getting it ‘all their own way. One of the lessons of the Great Strike was to’ fight back every time the bosses attack us. At High Moor in North Derbyshire, at: Westoe in the North East and in Yorkshire,. strikes have been launched to defend : gains like water money or against sackings.. Every time we. fight back like ' this we show to the Board that: we will not be pushed around, and when they try it, it will cost them. This way we can rebuild the fighting strength of the union, The: week-long strike over 4 sackings at South Kirby in Yorkshire is a good example of how and how not to rebuild the strength of the union, They . struck and, over the week, brought cut Houghton Main, Ferrymoor Riddings, Dodsworth; Royston Drift & Shafton workshops. Once again the power of __ “picketing:was on,display. The Board were worried by the. prompt and deter4: Mined response that their provocation was met with. At the end of the strike, however, those sacked were not reinstated. Here the way not to rebuild the - NUM was in full display. First, branch officials, obviously in liason with the Area, blocked sending out pickets. Then the branch sent out pickets - but only to the pits that had voted to support South Kirby. At this point . 4 the Area Executive stepped in, fearing any spread of the dispute, and ordered ° the withdrawal of the pickets. This was a killer blow to the strike.. Jack Taylor tried to escape all blame, claiming, "It is not an Area matter. It is up to the branches to decide." By ordering the pickets to go home, Taylor exercised Area authority ~ to strangle, | not strengthen the strike.

The ‘lesson. is this ~ in the ‘coming fights with the Board, the union | ‘ leadership will not help us... At an Area level the officials want peace and quiet. At a national level Seargill and Heathfield are urging restraint. The scab leaders have not been expelled. Whilst Mc Gahey has invited the back~stabbers Kinnock and Willis to the Scdttish gala.

2 To. rebuild the union ada fighting class stniggle union we cannot. rely on. the leaders. Qut of ‘strikes like the one at South Kirby we must build a rank. and file movement. This: movement mist be rooted in the pits. That is

. where the power exists’ - through strikes, works-to~rule, overtime bans, etc - to fight the pit. clesures, win decent wages, defend the union and win reinstatement for the sacked fads..

in Wareickonate » *we:. ares seeing: a: a nettea ~

ed. The brarich»polieyi ofia werk. to, mie, pas. Te not been efifétced: -Instead-there. has been a’

¢ = Fi ew boos ~ ry : 3 , ei as FE LEE

TM MO te ee

ase

BS “Y. Ay . aleragk-and t there: j rigs: a feeling « of . * déttioral gation: “among. thesmen,.; They have _ been’ bought ' ‘OfF with extra: water. sponey = ~ op to" £5) ‘per: ‘shift and early papers. Men “just sign’ a’ ledger when they. come: out of tthe. pit, to 9go.early. i

the branches. “At. Kéresley 141.men. remain sack="

clamouy: fey averting. Meanwhile | the President

and Seeretary | PP: having pee inéetings ae with managengnt « fog bik

At! covensii Haggeive giant {Coikewozkers): ‘the - branch have ny qrescindad ‘the “aid ‘that ino’. scabs could serve on committée? 'wor'sé stint, os at Daw Mill 4 officials ( 2 NUM and 2NACODS) . aye having’ an exmpenses:paid trip, to the USAs presumably" at' MacGregor! s:. invitation. ..t0 , i experienée® ‘at firstyhand MacGreggr, style _ ‘

2 Management pave. tréated the Dirty 30 : ~ ~ Reaponan i well, considering they position. - But then they. « don!t_ heed to get ‘tough when > we, have” anion Like’ the Leits ‘Area NUM,

«act Baga)

NiY al vt

_ Although National NUM have waive® our: gubs “for the’ 12° teats on strike. betes area had réfuged :

vr teen eo a a tes

stab unionism nd doubts On.more Likely, theik’ et \ TWerefore we voit et py

reward for their years service to scabbing. "| “are ren sn: -. ee ng i Generally: “the. probhesi’ is “otid | of idotdtion:. sMmembers - 0k

for the militants..who « do want to fight’ thes eo deethe NUM,- ae - t NCB. Even the, sizeable, minority at! Kéresley, "unable. BOL ies - though in. contro} of | ‘the’ “Branch ’ ‘Conmittee: i. . take. “part, + bane 3 3 are not at: present ‘leading any’ organised ve in Jbranch |, i fightback, , In fact two’ scabs Have’ recently -: i} meetings, os

heen elected to Midlands Aréa’ NUM.- Or: pee on

LBICESTERSHIRE, ° Now we

All 4 Peanive pits. ane. ‘on the AB “Ay ‘ate seeing" closure hist. Whitworth and South Leics. are’ Of thee ve oes due for closure thisyear. Bagworth, a’. - * National: Aw it

ries

AGedion under- attack. fxca, a eipte adtiance"

previous high prodigeryis now losing” (Leics, - Ss Derby»: Notts. ), which. is

£100, 006" per » week. Boras: : is down, feos £85550

wowen _exeier ON.

Before: ‘the: Great; Miners, Strike of 184~85 most miners’ wives’ contiehtrated on: looking

After the: home; bringing, up. children. “Many like myselfimay have.had part -time jobs

and” to solteneaxtent, seo, the, union, ‘stiicture,” ‘and: the, pitfalls of. union bureaucracy.

~ PEVLL : ads con |

For many the strike changed, their. attitudes: comptetely.. We: picketted, croanised soup

katohens,,.went on. rallies, denonstrationsarid‘instead of,. ‘Standing.. behind oir men, sy

whi¢h, had, been | he Gase-irl ‘Past “struggles, we, food _. side by side and faight with

them... Never agtip mace ‘wenien be allowed to; recede, inte’ ‘thé pablejreuna; they will

. ete’ ih the forefront: with the men. We. say womén ShOdid-be-egudly § xepresentes x ne Which théyare to-be .) in. the National Ratik’ “arid Fille ‘Movement because everything. ‘that’ affects the mien affects,us. We. ‘say té "the ‘suppért ‘groups: keep going, | build support in your area for a rank and ‘file -mgvenént, 2 it’ 46 ‘net ais: some: people

~khink a breakaway from the NUM, it is a movement to build 4 ‘stinger ‘anion, We are proud “that Gur féf are -“members-—of. the.NUIM but. we need a fighting union so that | never again will we suffer the defeat of the 1984/5 strike. 9° ~~~" "> Corit'immed on next

2. Bentley Colliery walked out over managemeyt sending one man home for ag - allegedly not Going ‘his job. The Nc rank and file dgaliri responded quickly immediately and brought the pit to a standstill.

Leics. report continued. cere es : ....contiming to work against the National — Union, yet they are getting away with it!

Resolutions of action against these areas : mist be passed to make them accountable for their actions. The expulsion of these areas is long overdue. Then strikers and men who do not want to leave the NJM can get on , With rebuilding. these ‘branchés AO. aS ta id this union of its. weak: TARE | a

| These, are just two of many instances — where, the rank and file have shown

vis, that by gxganiging ata. ice ae ‘ . Level, they: panjacbheye esults. 1/5/1535

nik

YORKSHIRE THE ‘eign ‘GORS. (ON NORTH. DERBYSHIRE.

‘Last week the Doncaster area saw. xenk:-and , ‘file menbers at. Suppite Ae HEN 38, enoush |

phere ree aymen ‘that lasted 3 days, aiid arid - payee Colliery there was: “a2 2 day's strike , Over the 5 scabs. fron Der

1. Sixty men at Brodsworth. ‘Galliery were: ‘sent home on the day shift because _

was, a. strike over. Re “£6 work. ...the day shift eee out for. _ wo. hours. only to find. oenicins told: the” ; , atternagn, shift | lg Sage es “to go a

afternoon apd night shift aloo come. oot a

“issue all ‘of:which show ‘that Loture. of 8 an faa fat an

continued

“Since » the end of the 2 strike. 4 ot of people have; just. retreated back dined:

» theix hemes: and-said, “1t-Oh,.it's..qver nox, we. have: dost, What can ws we do?" The preblan is it we ail -had-this. attitude we-would: have been in the ‘gutter . where the Tory: goverment wants us , long ago, We say to every rank ae “get up off. YORE: Ages amen: and. Join: iy wee :

“°thé"National Rank and Pile: Movement, get thvelt oie pest the beideoe a emeniaciail on ‘sinpe

- Alone we are oe upalens: t but if. every: ‘ait fait miner sess ioe © country” get together with: other’. ark and file meses we dan make , Tories. and bane mer a cee aie vs Laosda Join the,{ i

on bo <p

we ah ep for: rife ‘fox ‘their part: ‘in the miners’ strike: "The pyebs | oe a ae brated ‘then as mirderers. ‘So/llave the courts. We mst defend, 0s

Seer wens

: and Russell, in, fact are class war: prisoners, They: have been Tom ty ap ang imprisoned. by the class enemy for fighting the dless : ay én our’ behals. EYL were acting to. stop a \ scab Sivery weedy

oi past thie pickéts ‘ah ‘break the’ etrike, - “Hancock and ShorkeLin 3 stop the ‘stab taxi, to keep the strike solid ! a

“. There will’ ‘be. many who wilh ‘tusn their Backs on these young: fhiorts - ve ENE

"NUM leadership denounced Violence " awaly from thé-picket' line ", * he oe South tales eaters doubtless saw the attagk as. one: that’ woukd i ESR RADY AS

a “allies: in’ the: Church and higher places. ale Bn Mae ties? i S

P dokcee were fighting for their “jobs and fox’ thedx: class. Boro F ees te , WE mist demand the NM ight for ‘ther aoe ge eheiee of the other jailed miners. io a 2 SWE ge

Today =: ‘ys/es ~ two iclieti pits: ‘came to a standstill in: piotést at at the verdict. Men from Oakdale Colliery said they would standby ~ "ys the lads and would make sure they were yisited regularly. This is rie a saety a start te a campaign t to force the. NUM to, “epee up’ the cases. .

RANK. +, FILE. CET ORGANISED. During the course of: the year long: ‘strike we found a’ great ‘need to’ organise a rank: and:

file moverient . “In the first week it-was. rank

‘and file militants who, ‘at their own expense picketted out some Nottinghamshire pits.

We soon found we had to put. up a ‘fight ” against our own branch officials and area - leaderships over the way to pushthe strike forward, But we had no effective way of challenging’ decisions: such as the deals made by Taylor,Williams and McGahey on exemptions. to steel—coal ‘and about where pickets were sent enen when. we knew we were wasting our time. And by.the. end. of: the : ‘strike we had no

way of stopping the sell-out as an alternalt-:

-ive rank. and. file keader ship had not ‘been —

orgarmi sed...

For many ‘months through the. strike men and women all’ over the coalfields organised picket lines, ran strike committees, support -groups etc. Now the strike is over the need — for a rank and file movement is greater: than ever.

On the. “ftp. ‘April 1985:rank and file’ miners, their wives. and girlfriends from ~~ different: aréas of the coalfield met in vice f Sheffield, ‘to- discuss ‘the situation ‘in the « industry. Every area represented ‘gave a-repor

on the situation at‘their particular. pit. These reports ‘showed clearly: that whichever. area you Came from+you faced basically the: same problems. They-‘shewed that unless we. join together and form a national movement .. each individual area would be isolated and _.. left to the mercy of the N.C.B. 7

We all agreed to commit ourselves to form a national rank and file movement which will work, not as the present N.U.M. worke which is an affiliated basis but as‘a national organisation whith fights for one union/ one rule book in the N.U.M.

Various tasks were suggested and ageeed;

i) to organise a ‘Natiomal Rank and File which will campaign for re-instatement and

" amnesty for all sacked and jailed miners: by direct action from the union.,..overtime bans, work to rule and strike action. ~ ii) to continue ‘the’ campaign against pit closures.” + ;

ISSUES IN THE UNION

. REPORT FROM APR tii)to campaign for ‘these. policies and build :the xank and file movement | by, organising” speaking tours in all. the coalfields.” ; :- dv} te fight for disciplinary action’ to be taken against officials (branch or -.ar@a-) who scabbed on ‘the strike and - continued to work against ‘the: National

‘The conference elected a steering - committee consisting of four sacked miners, . four working miners and four miners wives. We also elected a chairman, vice chair, treasurer and secretary.

‘Since the conference. the Rank ‘afid. File

a Movement has set up. two offices { one -

. in/London and‘orie’ in: Binwingham }: to | ‘collect’ money and information for: ...°." distribution to the areas.

we have also. organised a monthly news— letter: to: spread the infomation about — what's happening in all the areas.

Those miners and wives attending the <5 ‘first conference committed themselves. to build a-National ‘Rank and- File Movement. After reading this report we hope you will also commit yourselves and join: the 1 NR. FM.

UNITY IS STRENGTH. . -MINEWORKERS OF ALL

_ COALFIELDS UNITE. .

‘DEBATE

‘Below we print an interview with a member .of the National Rank And. File Committee. The ‘ade has a number of disagreements

_ With us and we have included’ a_reply* and

ongoi. alscussion on this. issue and ‘others. 4

"Red Miner. ‘WHAT LO YOU ‘sbR AS THE TASKS OF | THB NEWLY FORMED RANK AND. FILE MOVEMENT ?

I'd say to co-ordinate with different collieries and find out how men have been victimised in different pits and’ different

og

areas and how we can build up to fight the N.C.B. and government. over’ victimisations and how to fight for our colleagues jobs back, who've been sacked for any old trump- -ed charge what the judiciary have seen fit to pin on then.”

Red Miner. DQ’ YOu AGREE THAT THE. RANK AND FILE MOVEMENT HAS TO BE POLITICAL.

Yes, politics comes into everything I suppose - buying a pint is , political when you. see —

. you are paying so much tothe Tory Party.through the brewery.and so on. I am a member ‘. O£ the Labour, Party :and I'am ashanied: of. the: leadership -of the Labour Party and 1. feel the majority of miners are in the same, boat. So if by defehdirig the Yights what. people. have fought for, over the years: is. pe itital - bloody hell we want: to: be » Going it !.

. Red Miner.

WHAT ‘POLITICS PLATFORM SHOULD THE MOVEMENT BE BASED ON i

The aims are set out in the leaflet. My ‘first priority is to get jobs back. I know its going. to be hard especially with the national executive taking them up as individual cases. I don't think they’ have the riglit to take then up as individyal cases ~ all of them are part and parcel of the same’ dispute: and.we shoyld reopens

. this and feel amazed when our own union is dividing then into ' ‘different. categories ;

. as ‘to what. representation they get. Dk

Red. Miner. . ‘WORKERS POWER SUPPORTERS PUT A RESOLUTION’ AT THE FIRST RANK AND. FILE _ CONFERENCE _( printed after this | article for reference CUTLINING: AN: ACTION: .; PROGRAMME FOR. THE NRFM - A “BASIS FOR A FOR A POLITICAL CHALLENGE TO THE LEADERS LOCALLY “AND NATIONALLY. Y¥QU VOTED AGAINST NST THE MAIN PART OF TH THE B_ RESOLUTION. « 2 .CAN’ YOU..-SAY WHY?

I agreed with i ts content in principle, but again the only other ‘people who. would have agreed would be a handful of activists from day 1 and I didn't think this would be .- right under the circumstances. ‘The iain aim was to fight for | amnesty, reinstatement and building the movement up within the NUM,

In :the. "hong term I would personally campaign for 99% of the resolution. Red Miner. IT HAS PROVED TO BE DIFFICULT TO MOTIVATE THE SACKED MEN = HOW WILL A RANK AND FILE SO CONCERNED WITH THAT SINGLE ISSUE HOLD TOGETHER IF /WHEN THE ISSUE DIES.

sacked. men at Rossington Colliery (Doncaster) have been told that if they have anything

-to do with the rank and file, hardship payments are likely to be cut off completely and we feel this is totally wrong and we are trying: to link sacked men together without having to fight the bureaucracy of our own union. If these people are true ‘xade unionists(the bureaucracy) they would help us rather tHan delay us. Also in using these tactics the R and F will gradually get bigger because people will see through the bureaucracy and realise what we are only here for to. build this union :and to have better unity.

Our main difference with the comrade would seem to be simply a matter. of timing. The

time wasn't right for our resolution. The time wasn't right to put: iforward a full political programme ‘for the’ rank ar? f/Le movement.

. In fact “the difference about timing reveals a bidger - difference over the nature of - the rank. and, file movement. The comrade, and the founding conference, want to build ‘the movement as. a. sacked miners | campaign,. In-order to enlist official support, or at least neutralise potential official hostility, the conference believed that for the moment politics must be kept at a t low profile, — vos,

In building up “the movement over- ‘the gaoled lads issue - the comrade believes 1 more

and more People will join the ranic and file movemenit’. - Th - Continued .-.

ae

Thi s “bes ve duestion winning. ‘ete ‘to! whet. P this. te: where: < our. resolution provided ,

- time: answers: te the problens.' “working miners: face +\wages, closures, union democracy, -

* “the NCB Gfftndivevand sécobs rar fred scaring: -pexplievoff, the: programme | we. ‘PEaposed. would ; . Rave: been a tool for the xank. and file movement to -bnild: itself with. - ws: elf!

‘Politics: as’*the comrade’ agrees, : are” vital. The Red Miner has: epenly. and: honestly put : ; forded: the politics at: ibeLigoet: are hecesanty for. the: ranke and. file movement:

_ support, to “the Rank eid. File Movenent. We will: Work to: Dalle. it and ite 4

Bo oe At ‘ead ‘tage. ‘Of ‘the. Abvemee 9) development y/ thoughts: we. will, repeat...our, basic oe belief that it mst go beyong the issue of the:.sacked miners,,; To, succeed. the, National. » Rank: ‘‘erid File Movement oust” buiad itself into‘a force of working and sacked miners -and. their - wives ‘pnd families capablej when the officials get. cold feet ag*they ~ mag’ ye aid, in’ ‘Soath “Kirby; of: organiging indepanddatiy of” “trem. ‘to ‘defend’ the: ‘interésts of”

Le miners on all fronts of struggles: es, — oo 7

Fe 8 ‘ 4 . . oo meetine Teraite. Stecle ‘to. organ. “we ‘also. need ‘to Suite’ a "fighting atk ae " Absiing << ae > movedent ef ratik’and file miners | and file movemertt’ inside “the amion: aa *pinaide: ‘the NUM® arid. maintaining and... which 1 alse. axgues tor i ° ae mt ting ttineérs: wivesgroups. -The. move~ “ cohen - Waat canipaign. for ats. policies. with “win the’ NUM and it is not.:split -off. from’ os the union, It will be open to individual} “inners, ' vdelegates. from: branches/ Lodges | ne Gelagates: rom: minetes wives: apport :

“The » main priority of the ank avd. tile we as “art ‘averaue wage. movement at the moment will be a fight § | * Wage’ xises must” 00 fox She telnstexenent bf: sacked miners. = i.

eéeppaign to, wit: “reingtatemnt “and J minesty ‘fox: al. jailed miners. We: EEL: voampadion: for direct action by the. D4. > inion i. ‘overtime bans, work. to. rales, - "strike ‘action « in. OF these, | oo Bega wild, work ‘to, win-financial, no ee SappEee’ for: vehewictioteed sand. imprison =

“ ea to. ‘build up puri seach . ia peeparation for eve farther, Rational -

- _ mevemerrt We sheuld- organise rs speaking. tour in all coalfields..to. publicise. and.

steps din the xight, dizection. On, the

w shcald be. opposed.

none oF:

ae ¢ FS 2

“+ Campaign to: defeat scabt unionism. in our ‘ranks. Bipel the scab. ‘led areas. and ight to ‘refound the NJM.in these areas; : - Maintaih ‘ the wwives : ‘orcups,. with the: wight. to attend all. UM postings agsebs Serv . * Keep: ap “the Jamkcs with. other’ wotkers involved, during the strike. The. DEM mgst in “caripaign with BEL. ‘unios Who’ are. in struggle ‘against ;the bosses. ar, the ° eS We ima St" ight to rid the-fabouxr-Party: of such. traitors: such as Kinnogic. and. make een our dponsdbed: Maps s accouritable. to union polity.) - . a. * Our Gingei tition reads 2. join in. with other-organisations ‘Foy: the. porpose: ‘of Paose and witha view to the complete ‘abolition .of capitalism. a & Pages ) and, we. should bbe do ali that is possible to put that into practice. . eons To! ‘campaign for. these. ‘policies: aiid. to*buiiid: the. National. Rank : and. File. ‘miners -

“reermit® ‘tener $ to oar movement: We. Should .aiin.to build: ‘Toca pit based, OF, area oe based ( as. appropriate ye ‘Yank: andi file: groups... «> Bye ta To” further these activities we will. ‘publish’ a monthly. newsletter, open. to. contributio: z | contribatibns® ‘ftom all miners. (except fascists ),.miners wives and at the. dis¢retion.. of the steering ‘cémnittee (who should form the. editorial beard. of: the: newsletter a i from supporters of the. minérs' outside the industry. 65. |. ae The. steering: ‘coum tes should organise a, national conference. in » Septentier 1985. £0 review Progress ‘and t plan further Campaigns.

C H IN N re E S_ 2 |

The, NEC piopdsed “tule” ighanges pose a sharp: test .for,NUM militants, .On the one saan

“hand - they,: involve. changes. ‘which serve to : ona compan. nthes could. make: et “dmposs!

“eentrali se the union “as a, ‘ational, body. ible for the“areas to batiot-themsel ves. ‘These measures should be supported as out of a national strike’ + vas: the. ‘seabby.

| Notts miner vightly put: it The: propased —

| ‘new: rulés' would have blogked 1 last ; years Notts: strike ballot." 4

. other ‘hand,..the changes contain. proposals a which | would, eyshion the officials, make - them: less accountable and dampen rank’

and file inttlative:. JAM. such measures

But the atigex is that many» pijowis midi tants - in the NUM will ‘simply put: Os PANS. where Lynk or Williams put a minus. There . are - many rule changes that should be © opposed | Or r ammended. -” 7 .

Lyk and Prendergast have. swung, the. ‘Notts eal ‘against.the changes.’ What they dont: like ‘are precisely. those measures which os wightky diminish the antonomy. of e areas, “Tn this they, have Been. jeined : “py EBalyt.Wilidems.andsDr.- Howells who are : jealais to protect: the precieus, Aptency of ‘Boath, Wakes«.! me ine

the proposed ‘chehges would servd.te' further protect the officials, from account . wability to the xank ‘and. file.It. is wrong that Arthur: Scargill Shonid be.made:.

| president ‘for life. Alb officials strould * : ; a a be recallable. and “up for regular: election. é : “Militants ean: have. no truck with + the me ~ We ‘should also oppose ‘that: “Ghange- which:

os campadgn - the Notts and Welsh leaders. éalls for a ‘two’ thirds : majority ‘of. ‘eentorae “The Great Regie showed. ja : . Pi mence, executive: and individaal ‘members oN before officials canbe remuved.;: ¥e see Lynk. and Co. contesting. this. ones . ‘Although ‘it is presentedias® a-means of preventing’ a repetition’ of the. ‘Bohandson | affair, dtiwihd, serve te’ ‘eatherbed:. at ee i officials = ‘whether. ahey be: eee PE

We are for the NEC and conference having the power to call strikes. But the rule changes recommend more than this. They suggest thet no strike should be made official unless the NEC sanctions it. This is presented as a means of. defending the unions . funds under the anti-union laws. In fact it will protect the officials funds for just as long as they give no official backing to a dispute. But under the new anti union laws it means the ~ . a! pickets,whotve kick started every major dispute in the industry, will now be left to get hammered by: the bosses as'fitlaneci- — ally liable". The rules should be changed to guarantee NEC dfficial backing for every: action decided upon by the men at the relevant pit, area or panel level. . The. ‘NEC must. not .be allowéd to climb. back on the ferice and pick and choose which battles: it wild, | “support.

Rule 5d would: 1 ead tt. The. NEC shall determine the categories and qualifications of persons whd shall be eligible ‘for consideration as associate members", - Lynk doesn't like this one either ! In our view asSociate membership should not be a medal handed out by the NEC to chosen individuals in gratitude for - services rendered. The wives organisations should: have automatic right to associate status as groups. That is a necessary means: of maintaining the fighting unity. that was forged in.the strike and developing the wimens groups further. ‘This -xhe.change should also. be a ammended to make. it clear that associate membership will give the womens groups the right to observer status at every level in the union.

New rule 18h says that areas refusing to obey the new rules "May be excluded from the union... Fine words. In our. view all scab officials showld have .been:-booted out. the moment they stuck their knives..into, the NUM's back. Their members would then have been given the chiice of. either going with the scab officials or standing and fighting with the national union, Failure to do so allowed the waverers to keep scabbing. And it’ has given Lynk and his well placed adviser. over a year. to build their scab outfit inside the NUM.

Now they have drummed up two thirds of the Notts miners to prepare to split if the rule changes go through.

It's still not too late to take the bull.by the horns, The scab officials in’ all the scab areas should be’.

expelled now.It's just not: enough to “suspend Lynk from his. job. . The "union should be reconstituted atound

those who stood and struck with the NUM. NUM members who scabbed should be given the choice between a company

“ynion and a union that will fight.

Loyal NUM members must be given every backing to win’ that recruitment- campaign. It should be the union. loyal militants and them alone ~- who should have the right to decide whe can and gan not carry. a. union | card.

By Dave Hughes.

This article was written before the rule. changes were circulated and. discussed in the branches. oe a

As a result we , would ‘qike to hear” your comment s on the proposed rule, ~

changes. ..

We also welctine your comments on this: article -additions, disagreements or’ changes.

If you. have any comments on this or any other articles in The Red Miner." send.your letters to .

138 Crookesmoor Road SHEFFIELD

c.

THE MINERS! MINORITY “MOVEMENT - Me:

The term "minority: movemerit!": ‘caught: o on” “in ‘the Midlan ‘ds during the ‘GreataStrike. the’ Midlands strikers were a ‘minority: : and “they needed * ‘a movement ‘to. organise :. the &trike; hénce’ the Midlands = Manority Movement.

As the strike wore on militants. realised that it was not only seab ‘officials whd were preventing victory in the strike. Even. ‘left! officials like Emlyn © - Williams, were back-pedalling on the ~ goals of the strike and sabotaging picketing. A minority movement of rank and file miners was needed to organise under the slogan "with the officials: necessary". Miner&“were beginning, to” realise that a problem eisted with the officials, whose xrefdrmist politics -- and whose position as médiators betweén the men and the bosses,. pushed ‘then* towards rotten compromises with MacGregor and the board.”

ope, febe

The problem of the leadership in the | unions is not a new one. Nor is the tendency of. the rank and file to organise to resist the treachery of ‘the leaders. The Unofficial Reform Comittees. that: published the famous Miners! Next Step

in 1912 was an example of this.” The_Miners' Minority Movement in the “1920's ‘was another.

The Miners! Minority Movement was built - by the Communist Party. This explains its success. It was built by the cadres of a then revolutionary party. The party won leadership of the Minority Movement by virtue of its politics

and by means of democratic debate. The party gave the Minority Movement a clear political direction.

i: the class... - forward. to. achieve those

From. the. very. y beginning: the ‘Communist ” by Party: built the Minority .Movement in the -y Mines, .and,in .other. industries, .on a

- fismly political.basig.-; It. shad a...

programme of.:action. | .it ‘voiced: demands for the improvement of. conditions fox. Tt.had a strategy. an a way : is and it was daily developing... tactics to win ‘over the mass of workers to build a movement

committed. to working class interests. .

The initial. moves: towards setting “Up - - the

early. Minority. Movment- toak place an.

March/April 1921 when unofficial Trade

Union bodies: like, the Miners Reforn .

Committee, the Shop Stewards Committee. and the Railway Vigilance. Committee came

.' together at.a.conference in Sheffield. This, conference forged a link between.

the new Comnunist.;Party and. the trade union left. Although there were delays in forming a National Organisation, bers mevements were built during the following years in the various indasnries, .

ca Particular. -SAccess was achieved. in. 1. the ' .coalfields.

» The Unofficial : ‘Reform. Commi~ ttee surviving the war years as°a: ox network of Marxist study groups centred around ‘the Rhondda without, doubt formed aspfingboard for. the- emerging . -MINERS* MINORITY MOVEMENT .(MMM)_:dn: South, Wales.

In Scotland: the. Reform, Committee, went

so:far as ‘to. setwup:. thei x, ow, breakaway

* organisation, the.-'Fife,: Kinross pad...

Clackmannsii: Miners' -Reform Somittee' in’ 1922-°°1t tools: the. persuasion of. the

‘Geveléping"MMM to. nereunite these ..... ; Cethict: organisations, onee. again, and

Pee te ‘the. point of ‘calling a, a National . eonkerences

It's aim: to, transform the Miners Federation : ‘into: A. United | Miners Union affiliated to the Red

International of Labour Unions. Its

“~~” 2A

eC psoas

, : agin. ‘the Capitalist an fest = its agents within |

~ the:Labour: movement - ~ the ‘bureaucratic Le

- leadership.

Wot: ‘©

“30 this end it yaw thet! © ‘Zatike afd tie: se.

« forces must be. gathered around

a A fighting programe»

: Concrete, demands. for nid con~ ‘solidation ‘and re-organisation

fe The. necessity for creating.a\

oes new ideology etsongat union: -- a”

ee oa the | Recessity of training and developing a new leadership to eephaes the old,

peep ‘Seonuhtable. to,the ,

sp sed pou fone: 98. “leadership ‘a sie

; om palo detrng and carrying a aie” é ‘equal. to the average, in the trade.

This ensuted that “the: inteweste -of,,.

S xébained: idential: to; these. a “

ae set: up. ae Sie Lancashire, ‘Cheshire, Me - Yorkshi bes: ports, ‘Sontie: Mason, and |,

- Wales districts.

. strate

more. . appatent than in: the South . Wales: eo pated arenes for

piBy, the: § "one 25; oo pity could ‘boast "OE. &

many had their own ‘pit? ‘papers 2 sight of being surrounded by” $0 mach: communist militancy. ‘proved. tod. whherving for the. Chief: Constable ~

hd OF ‘Caamarthenshire who. boggled at the. my “prospect. By the Beginning of. ieee) aa

rio doubt red-eyed with fear and. : dismay, he called for the immedi ‘ti expansion of police strength’ in. the Anthracite Region. - This fog no. ~ other; reason than "because of the

7 arotegh BE Comune 4 an . the, areal.

A a a

ke organisationally or ia 6f ‘the rc) ‘south Its influence’ Gdi: bei pene perp Miners: Federation. (SHE) siderable... Bat ee Mat end

“of. these fat © dy cnveng!

expert, pressure

of Great ‘setuinoneey: aed fe p was to convert wae fron.

-In ‘tacts _SYMF had. 4) apepenn sana of fe mane atts: “Apri conference

- “negotiate within’ the. tems . euployers.” That is they’ ac bossey economic akg

i file tevel within and’ be Ss. e for ‘the. suctéss leading.t6 Red. d a down invthie face of a. ‘threat of

mys BENS LEADING UP TO. RED FRIDAY, 1925 oS AND THE: GENERAL. STRIKE OF: 1928

De Ayes .

wl en pete Es bit pa go e “sees, t bending and “breaicing: the’ Taw ‘to: stop picketting S, demonsrrating, :

at - TEM el

| Bethe 4 the. strike,

oives ¥ police the Fight’ to control ‘the size, place and duration are & heeting or picket. They will-also beable to-ban. ; ;

rm ‘an even flimsier reason thart at ‘present, and so y to the Home Secretary. ne PU, pe

eens oy Ne. any of us. tiréak. the Law on picket ito or. acetate? then we face afl, {000 fine" ‘or “three months in nkeks: ‘SO when’ ‘ahd: dra