Miners strike

• NUM proposed closure of 20 mines and 20k job losses
• how did thatcher feel about miners

  • Blackmailers
  • conservatives had large anti union movement internally
  • enemy within
  • rewarded inefficiency
• coal mines previously subsidised as marxist ideology of providing coal and employment but Attlean consensus is over
• Employment acts

  • Forbade mass picketing
  • outlawed close shops
  • declared industrial action illegal unless formally voted in ballot
  • outlawed secondary pickets like train strikes
• thatcher also stockpiled coal at power stations
• used the law to fight them
• national policing is introduced so met come to north and Nottingham
• nuclear plants are relied on and oil which have special police and remote areas
• 75% mines are making losses

  • already nationalised steel
  • plans to get rid of 1/4 workforce
• • most miners didnt strike and nowhere over 50% vote
  • Nottinghamshire didnt strike
  • strikers discouraged by no benefit and pay
  • no national ballot discouraged miners who saw it as illegal but needed all as other mines could subsidies strike
• strike begins in summer when coal demands are low
• Warwick - Leicester and Nottingham Lorrie’s don’t strike
• Battle of Orgreave

  • 500 miners vs 8000 police
  • legislation and government preparation
  • NACODS didnt strike and got pay rise
  • NUM taken to court and lose money
  • Scargilll recives money from Soviets and gadaffi
• why did the miners lsoe?

  • Canadian manager head of NCB = unsympathetic
  • Employment acts
  • Stockpiling
  • No national ballot discouraged
  • Breakawat miners who were alienated + Nottingham
  • timing is wrong in spring
  • 65% public support government
• Attlean consensus is destroyed and myth of union Power
• within 10 years the industry is demolished but in long term our reliance is now foriegn
• left wing view

  • destroyed consensus
  • government shoudve subsidised unprofitable pits for employment as now towns are deprived wastelands and north south divide
• right wing

  • militant unions destroyed who undermined elected government
• Cost the government millions
• Ridley report

  • Set out plan to take on unions
  • Used electoral mandate of 144 from 1983 to pass this
  • opened way to free market economy and inequality flourihes
• rupert murdoch challenges print union and they collapse after 13 months
• NHS workers, teachers and steelworkers struck for pay rises when inflation was over 10%
• Scargill alienated moderates and was factor in loss
• 1979 - employed 200k

  1990 - 60k and falling
• By 1990 total union membership was only 2/3 of numbers in 1979