Milne was not the first person to use margaret thatchers most noteworthy 1984 soundbite for his title associating the enemies without in the. By the early 1980s the collieries were losing money. Thatcher debated using military in 1984 miners strike the. Thatcher debated using military in 1984 miners strike. The 1984 miners strike was a last attempt by the mining unions to stop mining closures and the loss of jobs. Thatcher refused to compromise, and by november 1984, the miners had begun to return to work, heralding what was seen as a crushing defeat for them and a major victory for mrs. In march 1984 more than 187,000 miners came out on strike when the national coal board. Nothing ive read yet convinces me this is a good idea. May 09, 2010 ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers.
Updated editions were released in 1995, 2004, and 2014. It pitted national union of mineworkers leader arthur scargill, a marxist commited singlemindedly to the welfare of his unions members, against prime minister margaret thatcher. Thatcher, scargill, and the miners wilsher, peter on. The british coal miners strike of 198485 was the most significant labor battle in that countrys past half century. The miners strike 198485 police, protests and public. Impact of arthur scargill on the failure of the miners strike. Scargill marches with dinnington miners in 1984 rally. In 19845, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlon. Haunting images of the 1984 85 british miners strike. Former prime minister, baroness thatcher, led the tributes for his contribution to british industry. Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 upi archives.
Loss without limit new edition by adeney, martin, lloyd, john isbn. In britain, trade unions had traditionally launched strikes for claims on wage rises and rights at work, but strikes in defence of jobs had been very rare. In the 1980s margaret thatchers hardcore social an. As featured in the yorkshire times, sheffield telegraph and nuj news leeds. But the most considered analysis of the strikes meaning was an essay by historian raphael samuel in a ruskin college compilation the enemy within number three, subtitled pit villages and the miners strike of 19845. Assess the view that the main reason for the failure of the miners strike in 1984 was the leadership of arthur scargill. But ten years earlier the uks coal industry appeared to be on the way up. Mar 05, 2015 on this day in march 1984, the miners strike, one of britains most acrimonious industrial disputes, began when workers at yorkshires cortonwood colliery downed tools. It was also seen as a major political victory for margaret thatcher and the conservative party. Occasionally his broadly thematic approach means that we miss the drama of living in the moment, such as when in december 1984 thatcher is balancing the miners strike, a. Booklist miners and miners strikes news from nowhere radical. Miners strike 1984 jim coulter, susan miller, martin walker canary press, 1984 fiction 241 pages. What was the cause of the 1984 miners strike answers. More than half the countrys 187,000 mineworkers are now on strike.
Thatcher, scargill and the miners peter wilsher, donald macintyre, michael c. Thatcher refused to compromise, and by november 1984, the miners had begun to return to work, heralding what was seen as a crushing defeat for. Whos who in the british miners strikes 1972197419845. A crossparty agreement the plan for coal appeared to secure the future of mining in britain, two years after the february 1972 miners strike, which had crippled the countrys power. The pit closures the miners had fought so hard to prevent began in earnest. Original miners poems from the strike 1984 1985 i have a musty old box of poems collected by my dad. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike. Video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. The strike was officially called to a halt on march the 3rd 1985. So these real human stories cant be forgotten by history, here they are for everyone in exactly the way they were presented. The failure of the miners strike in 1984 has been seen by many as the result of bad leadership of the head of the num, arthur scargill, the lack of support for the strike as well as giving credit to the governments preparations. Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike the enemy within.
Samuels argument was that, far from being a movement to overthrow the existing order. The uk miners strike was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry. Margaret thatcher had planned to close down several mines and decrease pay, leaving several miners out of a job in 1984, so they went on strike. One of thatchers main aims during the miners strike was to weaken the trade union movement because, during her time as an mp, she had witnessed the downfall of heaths conservative government in 1974 as a result of a miners strike, she saw the problems that the mass striking during the winter of 197879 the winter of. Much of margaret thatchers new neoliberal settlement, replacing the old socialdemocratic one, survived and indeed helped to shape new labour. As history, unit 2, british politics, thatcher, miners strike, cause and consequences. On 3 march 1985, the nums executive narrowly voted for a return to work. International support for the miners strike 1984 85. The 198485 industrial action was triggered by thatchers plans to to close 20 coal mines and longer term plans to close more than 75 pits over a threeyear period.
And the subtitle, the story of the miners strike, 1984 5, refers to his specific task of revitalizing major sections of british industry. Two mori polls of miners in march and april 1984 showed majorities of over 60 per cent in favour of a strike. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. Ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers. Badge dating from the strike, caricaturing thatcher.
Mar 12, 2009 that is the legacy of the nums strike of 198485, a truly historic fight i have always said that the greatest victory in the strike was the struggle itself, a struggle that inspired millions. And never forgive the police who bruitalised the working. A dedication to the men and women who fought not only for the right to work but in the pursuit of a. To be sure, the miners had a good deal and to try to prevent a strike the national coal board gave to the miners the best ever pay offer, the highest ever investment and for the first time the promise that no miner would lose his job against his will. Loss without limit new edition by martin adeney, john lloyd isbn. In the united states, for example, individual people, acting in their own selfinterest and according to their own personal enjoyment, decided that it was better to live in the suburbs and drive an automobile. Thatcher, what is your reaction to the miners strike and the news they are going back on tuesday. Jones coronet booksess, jan 1, 1985 coal strike, great britain, 19841985 284 pages. Richards book, miners on strike, dedicated a chapter to how unusual it was in 1984 for a largescale strike to be launched in protest at job cuts. The uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry.
That is the legacy of the nums strike of 198485, a truly historic fight i have always said that the greatest victory in the strike was the struggle itself, a struggle that inspired millions. In this classic account, seumas milne reveals the astonishing lengths. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike books. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures.
David edgar looks at the literature of the dispute and explores its legacy. Usually for better working conditions or to demand. 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. I came away having learned a great deal, and i can honestly say i enjoyed the experience. The miners strike of 19841985 was an attempt by miners to stop the national coal board ncb and the government of prime minister margaret thatcher shutting down collieries mines.
It has been thirty years since thatcher broke the miners. Apr 01, 2014 remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. Accepting that a ballot might well have been won, ken capstick, an num ally of scargills, argued after the strike that organising a vote would have seemed like giving in. Speech to conservative party conference margaret thatcher.
How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. It has been thirty years since thatcher broke the miners strike. International support for the miners strike 198485. Well just overwhelming relief that it is over and we can get on with building up the coal industry again and that the families that have gone through an awful lot of suffering can draw wages and salaries again and rebuild their savings. The chilling catchphrase embodied her governments scorched earth onslaught on britains mining communities and gave the green light for the entire state to treat the miners union as outlaws. 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. Cover image of book reform, revolution and direct action amongst british miners.
In march 1984 more than 187,000 miners came out on. Thatcher was given the nickname iron lady because of her leadership style. A look at the british coal industry prior to the miners strike in a normal free market environment, supply and demand determines success. The events of 1984 were a culmination of many years of struggle by the miners to raise wages and conditions, and in the years immediately previously to the great strike to prevent earlier attempts of pit closures, the most obvious attempt being in 1981 by the still new thatcher government. On this day in march 1984, the miners strike, one of britains most acrimonious industrial disputes, began when workers at yorkshires cortonwood colliery downed tools. Remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. Apr 05, 2014 even veteran mirror journalist geoffrey goodman, whose book the miners strike is dedicated to british miners, argued that the refusal of the leadership to hold a strike ballot eventually finished. The 1984 miners strike was the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. As she saw it, the defeat of the miners strike of 198485 cut the brake on the application of largely unrestrained market forces, not only in energy but in the wider ordering of society. The secret war against the miners is a book by british journalist and writer seumas milne, first published in 1994.
Uk miners strike this move request derives from a malformed one at talk. It was also seen as a major political and ideological victory for margaret thatcher and the conservative party. I have a musty old box of poems collected by my dad. Synopsis in addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 19845 was the longest national strike in british history. The story of the miners strike, 19845 1st by ian macgregor, rodney tyler isbn. In 19845, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlong battle against thatchers tory government.
The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged. It was a defining moment in british industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the british trade union movement. London following is a chronology of events in britains miners strike, the longest major labor dispute in the nations history. The book investigates the circumstances surrounding the uk miners strike 198485. The strike became a symbolic struggle, since the national union of. Apr 15, 2015 one of thatchers main aims during the miners strike was to weaken the trade union movement because, during her time as an mp, she had witnessed the downfall of heaths conservative government in 1974 as a result of a miners strike, she saw the problems that the mass striking during the winter of 197879 the winter of. Loss without limit is a great read for anyone with a serious interest in the topic. During the strike the miners and their families displayed. Jan 11, 2009 video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. And the subtitle, the story of the miners strike, 19845, refers to his specific task of revitalizing major sections of british industry. They did so in the midst of the 1984 miners strike the most bitter and divisive. Margaret thatcher, by charles moore the new york times. Their fight remains a source of inspiration for the labour movement, and for those who want a democratic socialist world free of exploitation and oppression. Remarks on the end of the miners strike margaret thatcher.
During the miners strike, thatchers secret state was the. Margaret thatcher and the british coal miners strike. Against all the odds is a collection of poems published by the num in september 1984, written mostly by miners or members of their families. Across frontiers brings to life the fascinating story of the men and women who travelled overseas to speak to workers and raise support for the miners strike. How does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. She also forced miners back to work with no pay during the miners strike of 1984 and signed a treaty about the future of hong kong with the chinese in 1984. The bbc has referred to the strike as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. I have read many books on this subject and none measure up to this a great read. Thatcher, scargill and the miners paperback 1 sept. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates.
How thatcher broke the miners strike but at what cost. The strike became a symbolic struggle, as the national union of. The miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. The official yorkshire national union of mineworkers num area photographer in 1984 85 was the late martin jenkinson and this book of his photographs some never previously seen before serves as a unique social document on the dispute that changed the face of britain. Thatcher and the welsh miners strike 19845 history. Feb 02, 2004 the 1984 miners strike was a last attempt by the mining unions to stop mining closures and the loss of jobs. Miners strike over threatened pit closures tens of thousands of britains miners have stopped work in what looks like becoming a long battle against job losses. Thirty years ago, margaret thatcher branded striking miners the enemy within. A page dedicated to the memory of the kent mining communities and the 198485 miners strike. In 1984 there were 174 deep coal mines in the uk by 1994 the year the industry was finally privatized there were just 15 left. Thatcher, scargill and the miners by sunday times 198509 05. The strike only began to crumble when the ncb offered miners various pay incentives to return to work before christmas.
447 259 959 1564 1586 569 1598 1423 1383 1159 1135 153 649 1311 8 513 260 712 306 516 260 1542 195 676 521 1326 1292 1015 957 717 1088 1523 407 1212 1461 919 1516 548 1449 944 850 1433 989 805 798 240