Future Miners I Fight Miners.. Fight Any Further

Scan page 14

THE FIRTHE JOB LOSE WILL BRITISH INDUSTRY Xmas, a significant level of support had been demonstrated.

The Scottish miners' representatives - their executive - showed less urgency than the Kinneil workers. They contributed little more than hot air.

Kinneil was prominent in the 'Miner' and a special issue of Scottish Miner was entirely devoted to the implications of Kinneil. It carried an extensive report of a packed public meeting in Bo'ness in which NUM representatives debated The Tories have been taking their time getting ready for their next major battle with the miners. We've been going through a softening-up process. How do you assess the state of the national leadership?

Arthur Scargill has been looked to as a Messiab.

Even right wingers voted for him, though they want changes without a struggle.

He is not that.

Though a brilliant orator, he is'only as good as his team, and the team he's got on the national executive are, at best, non-political militants who don't understand the climate and have no slogans or strategy for it. The worst are right wingers who want to derail any initiatives and, frankly, don't believe in the union. Trevor Bell is an example.

A lot of the rightwing branches in Yorkshire that Scargill managed to keep in check have become increasingly active since he left to take the national presidency, and the balance of power on the Yorkshire Executive has begun with Wheeler, Scottish director of the NCB, the economics of closure, demolishing the NCB's arguments.

But the remainder of the Executive campaign was various officials talking to the press - 'There will be no let up by Scottish miners in their fight against pit closures" said McGahey on November 1. 'Scottish miners are preparing for an all-out fight over pit closures" he stated on 3 November. 'Conference [delegates from pits] to shift.

The right wing, previously in full flight, began to get bolder. An example is the candidate from North Yorkshire for the Yorkshire Presidency election. His election platform was that they'd always supported the bonus scheme and that the Tories had some good things to say about the trade unions.

What are the main issues coming up in Yorkshire?

Closures are the main concern. These could arise within a very short period.

Yorkshire has a policy of strike action against closures of pits except in

----- pull-quotes -----

MANERS vu FIGHT VY FINDTYE! FAS

MERS_ FIGHT ANY FUR THEF JOB LOSSE!