Police state in Notts

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30 Kent miners are marching to Nottingham. Last Saturday, Tth, supporters joined them for the march through South London.

Kent NUM area executive member John Moyle was speaking in Birmingham la week.

NO-ONE should be any doubt about what at stake in this dispute.

We are fighting the government and we are up against the most basic facts of this government's philosophy - they care about profits, not people.

At this very moment they are preparing the denationalisation and creaming off of the profitable parts of our industry. The rest can go to the wall.

It is the same philosophy that is behind the health service cuts.

But unfortunately not all miners see things like we do. The Midlands are a real problem, but we are determined to continue our campaign and build up support in Leicestershire, Warwickshire, and Nottinghamshire.

At Baddesley pit there is a pond, and I am told that even the ducks there swim around quacking "ballot, ballot, ballot"

I blame the local leadership -and not just the leadership of recent years. It goes right back to the Spencer union of the '20s. There has little or no tradition of solidarity, no education in basic trade unionism.

But I take my hat off to the substantial minority - about 30% - of Notts miners who are bursting at the seams to support us and are being constitutionalised out of giving that support.

We mustn't get the situation out of proportion. We want support from the Midlands, but we can win even without it. Notts have never supported a national strike, but that didn't stop us winning in 1972 and 1974.

Solidarity from other workers will be crucial to winning this dispute. We are very pleased with the backing we are getting from other unions, especially at rank and file level.

I understand that Bill Sirs has been making • certain comments that have, let's say, not been as supportive as they might have been. Well, I say to Bill Sirs, remember that you have still got a rank and file, and it's them that we're looking to for support.

They led the steel strike, and you sold them out.

And our links with the steel workers are very good. When the steel strike was on, 3000 Kent miners contributed £1500 every week to the strike fund. We sent 300 pickets to the Sheerness steel works.

Now that solidarity is being repaid, and very generously. Last week, for instance, Sheffield steelworkers came down to Betteshanger with an £800 cheque.

That's the kind of solidarity -rank and file solidarity - that we'te building on.

Perhaps there will be a national ballot, but if there is it will take place on the miners' terms, not the media's. The important thing is thar we are not constitutionalised out of a fight, and the NEC must not try to stop the rank and file fighting.

The rank and file will fight on under any circumstances. and they will win. The only question is how long it takes.

He are not looking for a rictory for the miners, but for the shote working class - for every trade unionist.

By Ivan IMAGINE that you are driving along a quiet country road when suddenly, around the corner comes a convoy of 20 police transit vans and a couple of coaches filled with police. Imagine being stopped on a daily basis by the police, asked where you work, where you are going and proof of identity - if there happens to be more than two of you in the car, being forced to turn back, even if, as in one instance, on your way to a job interview.

That is life in the police state of North Nottinghamshire at the moment.

If you come from Yorkshire unofficial immigration laws operate round here. One Yorkshire picket who was a bit slow in opening his car door had his windscreen smashed with an iron bar - the glass narrowly missing his eyes.

If you insist on going on after being stopped - even if you are miles from any pit, you have two options, you will be arrested on a bail charge which acts as a very effective injunction to stop you coming into Nottinghamshire, or a transit van blocks your way and you are threatened with a beating.

There are 57 varieties of policemen here! Sussex, Dorset, Metropolitan - you name them, we've got them. Looking for a picket? Then look for a very large group of policemen, at least three-deep and cocooned inside them you will find the heavilyoutnumbered pickets.

It's a good idea to protect your shins and genitals if you are in the front row.

If you're a branch official at that pit there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to speak to your own members - one was threatened with arrest if he went on a coach crossing the picket Even Henry Richardson, the Executive member for Nottinghamshire, who had earlier advised members to cross picket lines, was arrested - until the police realised their mistake.

If you are really lucky you may be allowed six pickets to stand on the pavement holding placards and ineffectually waving placards at cars between rows of police.

However, if you shout 'scab' you may be arrested for behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace.

A smattering of CID officers in your ranks doesn't help to breed confidence - if a stranger speaks to you the first reaction is usually suspicion.

At Babbington pit on Monday, 2,000 pickets effectively carried out a peaceful demonstration, albeit a noisy one, with lots of shouting.

• Then police snatch squads waded in and arrested anyone SATIONAL UEEMINEIORKERS KENT AREA - Wales • Scotland