Lessons of the_Stee| “Strike

With contributionsfrom BernardConnolly, RayDavies, Colin Herd,

, Brian Molyneux andother strikeleaders.

An IMG pamphlet

page 2FOR 13 weeks ax ms beginning nimu, me sledwmkas mk me pride:2! mm in the grmvivlg :mIrTorymovement. They headed nu ma ngmagainst one of me most Ieaclionarygnvainnianis seen In decads — oneIhal is iximrm‘n'2d to inning back megains won by ma working clam shoewand War Two.

The steelworkels‘ acucm lolluvvadinonwhs af anmory struggles boughtbv tens uflhousands of other workersrhmughmn ma counlrv in defence offlvmg standards and democvslic rignuDn everv ham — whzrevev the upsand downs of me smagglgs — walkerswave nsponaing Io Thm‘-:he<’s antacks: ham ma inniisandammnumrned on me Lahour Party devnwmradinxlaga!rIs1!hEI:uts, orn‘vcssawhora||5¢dYH

rraiargai Squaveaqains1lhera$lim»inigvauon laws, lo the 50,000 Mmmsponded to in. TUC call Induiiiniaaeiysmwed menon law pmpnsea by John cmia.

After one vsar in offioe, MaigamxThawhel vemains finn commmed Ioher mflneliarist nun with theuisaaamus carwsquances ni a pm-jeclm 2v, million unemnklvsd Ir/1582and aim untold namanips for rhswalking alas. But IK hash’! beenimam samngvm rnaimeiz sheiswing I0 pill ma Brhish ecDm7my back ona more profilabl: coming for inanines. To do mas, she must weakenma tvamendcus Wwer M the tradeunion rnovemervt.

The steelwmksf swiku has menYInscns for me arm—Tnry mavemem.Butnforvethirlacomcasauxmostdearfvin ma mrm1'bLmo1'isInIhIS narnphlet. itis Ihe anm: crifi nl painicai iaauenShlp. Nfllimms in ma labour inmernenx— annavanan|sir:andLanMunuv—

Ieoognisad an an -unfitsm'ke ma names. A don-2 II: In:Sieemolkels was a mnscinisizmic Inme Tons‘ sualsgy to deal wim Rh:capnaiisi miss.

However, Thamher confusad meunion Iaad:rshiP\ iack of smmach fora fighl, with the oeiannina n cf merank and me. And, as Eemard Connol-W commty poinvs om, Ihe inai woaksav ma smku pmduced a sizunisunwheae ‘won a min mwxvds mama:sn'1<e' would be evident. Furltuvmre,he cnnzinms, ‘n was car am in:mint: iaauuship was ins: as-Ina: asthe gmrm-u-in nu: ma auuuyiigHas’.

n was in 12-. main: A wineon union Isa-rilhs and-1 am

much izaiun — on [wildmmvne-yIau4-msudpniesin coma in ‘raw nl-in hr thesaint. w can-‘in 1|. n-waux -use:-A-human:-aquainn-uataiya-xiupmn-ii.lwi heinaui-imntiiunuujnn-xniuniminudiniruuit-Innuluaiavefomwint mm-i-anpg -i n hemania" and mwqhwn-an(2mu‘nuszmack mi-gnu.-uviairQevemmem.

|'sfv:x1\(?IisDCjan-‘cumnn Izm wmkassruunnyn-sue:strike. Fur rni|i\‘anE in way himrynesd no devsvep a pmr-an olactkvn In defend m-mama wasinrroiy offensive. Noaruwlhllflalarm. ll was xmaausa mun _ Inprogramme of zclmn wnim 2-we«min capitalism um me niwenumcamu up again: aimpumea in rnningalocus around which a general mikecould amiup.

The imrling palm for such a pro-

gramme must be me rereenen or anyidea rnar we shamd pavfurme efieclsat me eeononrie er: s. we nave nocanlrcl over me anarchy af capitalism,so we are nor gorng to suffer me can-sequences.

A workers’ sclulian to me capitalistcn reoorres a eornpxere re~srnreronng of me wrrme eeonornv —sumelhmg wmch can unlv beVmplememed by a wcvk.ers' gownsmen! Callaghan’: government hadnolhmg rn common with a gvvevnmenlwnren am: in the mtzresrs uf me work-my dass A wmkers’ plan fuv rneeconomy calis «or me expropriation ofme care sections of Tnduslry and rnefinance rnaorunons, ano fora regvme clworkevs' eonrrm aver pmducnon. Tosoak up unemployment and shmulare

page 3pvoducnan, a crash programme Muselul pubhc works would oe reourreo,arongeroe e snoner wuvk week with nolussaf pay for aH workers And n Iherewere re he moves towards a plannedeconomy, a complete rnonouow is vitalon an foreign rraoe (um impart cL7n—

mvls, which are oneereo agarnsrworkers in orner eoonrrresw. Thesepofmas rngnren CaHzghan and etherLabour Veadzvs. ver they are the oneswhich wdav need xo oe veugnr «or mme Vahnur movsmem arm in rneLabcuv Parly nsen.

The moves afoot in me sreez uniurspoint ro wnor 15 needed a new M|nan—ry Movement, a mllzmm organrsanonofafl muse that stand vor a mask vrornmass collaboration and cumprumlseand who arrnrowresrrne umons omorme hands of me refurmlst mrereaoers.A srrnnar movemem re needed roomen iherighlwlng mine LabourPav-iy. rne possrnrumea and mmeumes, innvganbing such a movement wereeleeny mveaied in me sreel make. menas re be our eonseroos mm rn out 2f—

Vurs ro mobxhse ‘me where movementvn a general slnke ro kick our meTones.

Frnauy, we have m be cigar ma! .4

ma rank and me rnovernenr wnrendevemped some nm finaHy defeat Sws.an imponant fzcmr m «ms was rneabsence uf a srrong vevclulmnaryorganLsau'on wrrh varge numbers clsleehwmkzrs In W5 ranks matcnuld kmltogether we local developments andpronae an o\/era" pohm:a\ frameworkTo build such a revoluliunarv Drganisa—uon goes hand rn nano wrrn rne ngnrfov pohcles or struggle, ner cam’promise ms rs why we huge you ownhe\p us build me lnI2rrv2uona¥ MarxrsvGroup

page 4

Lessons of the steelstrikeby Brian Groganums nationalnryniser lnr me steel strike)

me ilweek nmional sxeel suikeended wmn a as per cent wages risened Kc job ms and produclwltv tn-aeases The strike was a 5e11—nu( byme uruorl leadership, but not a defeatfnrsmehrworkers,

The large-scale vedundzndnsdemanded by (he Tcvies, which hefaleme strike seemed canam to guIhmugh withuul any plumevrs, nowthrsathsn m became a name ground.The sled strike raised me (aruparammav me class struggle m Emain andbrought workevs fvom me do me keybasqc mdusuies nutaf nation‘

The senlemen! is mane up of Mepane Eleven yer eem is to be paid onexsung rams. On avenge me winrnaan ecwnse finance for this, somemam, hasw belaund a\mL7merItiIeVYfmmfumre redundancies. AncmerA,5per can! on ufler is degendenl on Ihenegnnannn :1! local pmducnvnydealsinvmvitlg massrve changes in workingnraclmes and speed ups. ms willvesuh in 12,000 lost jobs, on (up of me52,000 almadv announced by ascrnanagnmsnt.The: 5 percenl nse willbe paid for me am four months anaccount. Bu! afier that itwm continueto be new only M satisfactory localdeals are cumpleled In many areasmese a.e unhknw It: be eonemdee.

menemexess, 916 per cent dear rs afar cry lrom management’: ongmaxaflel 0! mm per den szeewnmarshardw became me seer" ale! iamb IheTunesin1endedh‘tem|obe,ands!rL)ngsertmrs such as me miners wm notnave been imlmidated by me gm/em—lTl6f\1’smDfics.TVvasiluat\on msldelhesmel indus1rv has been ivansforrned.There was anger at me senlemenzWhen we rnsnnss anne enmmmeemInquiry were accepled, puckaxs lublr/—

.ng me esrc headquafinrs cnased themrecnlive members round meeuuemg.

The near unanrrnnus view of meacme nnkcrswasmDppuse me razumxe wuvk. am mese were anwya men-Iy 0! me mlal work fame, whvch naeby and urge remained nassiye ddnngme s\nke and subject In me pressuraof me czpuafisl media. Aocoymnsw.rneax Leaders geneeuy mok me newthat a united mum to wmk was mehas way xa preserve «gnnng capzcilyyln meme of Lhe exacutix/e's decisionIn sema, wmch was endorsed byrsrcs deiegatwbased negotvafinnconuninee — the militant was newsidered me! a mey yyene (B say ammy would become wsoialed and bewcked off. Even sn in Scum YDVKSNYE,

a key miliianisoongnolil, local leaoeisreqoiieo all men oresiige ro win a smallmaioriiv for a reiiirn to work at a massmeeiing.

A Ilmeek strike av tfiestealwarkers— llie lorigesr nslional snike in aiiiainsince me Second World War — waseomoleielv unexpeclsd, nut least byme Tones. Tne gnvzlnmenfs pian,hamhed wnile in opposition ovNienolas aiolev MP, was in pick onand oeieai a srgninoani giouo ofwnrker: as an examnle tu me rest orthe class

Whal me Tories had learnilmm ineHeain admlnlstrzfion was lhal inevcould nmimmedialeivtake on me "VIII-

ionc seeiois wrmoin eneouraging theson of conflagralicln wnien Healn hadieueneo aff wrin me miners in i972and again in 1974. Thatcher's oonoywas lneielore lo compromise wiln ineooie iiniore inllie omencwaga mund.Mioeie won 21 net oeni wrmoin anyslniggle aria eniisn Oxygen workersreceived over so per oem Such wageinoreases carlnol ooniiniie rune Toriesare to our Eriush eaoilalisni hack on anzxpansionary oasis.

A swingoingoeleai for me slsd—workers was eonsraaieo to he ansoessaiv preoansron KO lake on meslronoer sectors in me next wagemurid. ll would also oe ins flrstitap inme Tunes’ plans to break no me we cseeior by sniioingaff siaie backing, orniving oil oiomaole seeiors In privateioixuury

ISTC seemed ID be well onosen. aiilsire, ns general secreizry, wasrerlawned for ms 'rnooeranon', andmere nao been no natlurial steel strikesinoe me Geneml Strike in lszs. overme uosuwo yeaisineiinion leaoersniohad agreed (0 40,000 ieoiineanoes,

;7agE 5and in ‘lhe liisi wage round ii had ac—

cepled eigm per oem when everyoneelse was ohlaining 15 per cant. ainisnsiealwor-kers are ovlar mslowesi painin wesiein Europe.

The Ermsh sleel Darpora'u'on's iniiialoirer ol iwo per cam on loo or memaswa reelunoanev pmgnlmme wasto spark ISTC lmo nioiion. Despite meuni klealdelship, Ihes ebmughtaioial vvaikaiii lroni day one, on 2January. Even workers lrorn olsnissuch as snenon, coi-ov, and Canszttwnien were facing viriiial closure eameoin salldly in suooorr oi ina wike,even llioiigli lhey aooeaieo to navenoining we gain fvom ll. wiiniri daysare wnole onlie sneer Corpflralrnn wasai R standstill In me rollowing weeks amassive llving picket operation wasorganised, almed oariioiilarlv ar sleelstcckholdemducks, and orivaie meal.Such aeiions were againsi |he pnhcyand in manveaseszne exoiioiiv instmcslions ol lSTC’s naiional leailersnio.

it was me local soika leaaeisniieswnion loiiniilaieo lne suike aim ol 2:)ear cent wiin no sinrrgs, and thesouin Yofkshim smke eoriiinineescame ID inerore in aiming lorward iniseernana. Trie scope or me lwingplckafi, ilie rings omieir iargens, andme nuinoer oi pickers involveo Iar ari-needed me previous nignesi level orsnuggle set by me miners 1972. melevui of rank and «lo se|f—organ1sa!ionin me suike was vemarkabla. This wascoiipleo wiin a wioesoreao ilismisl oiine union leeaeienio wnieh leao lo mepopulavfsallon of the oeinano lor Srrs’resignaiion

The policy of am sirs was Kc aliainiaita find a compromise wiili managemenu at everv ruin wiin the oaeking

page 6do Len Merrev, 3 IS proposed xlwlormo1Lhefina\ sell-ouHo(mu\a —- eighieeiceni pvusnve perusni Vacs} praducnvrv — ins’: one week ima the s1nik:. 1:

ouicldy became obvlus mm a newstrike Vendarxhiv nad m be ranged

Tne delegaieeesed naIK)na\negmialion sdmmiziee ms sdmawneivuponsive io rank—and—file demands.Thus we eomnvi-nee took iusl 2cminmes to midw aullhelwfl D31 camplus 12 per cenl pavfmrjabs deaioffered by nienagemem end ieeam—mended by Sir: inthefiflhweekuflhestrike. am this body did not act as adayxaday Veadetsmp. vwm virtuallyno uediuonavmggle, nwasmmuneat idcax Ieuex wnd wok me lead in ex—

iendzng me strike Their more werenot only mdenendem af Ihs huiemrcvacv nu: agamsl ine sabotage of malap dcfie;a4s.

Tne auemeve In ad» am the ixnaiesemi. vameuteiwvme mass Dickens atmam Mk: Hedriexus and sneemees.me exiensidn of me nicxexing toStockholders and me decks: areallemplm close ma;ors1:u\ users suchas Metal aux. Fonts and EnfishLeywand aH came dram this layer 01 localIeadevs. ll was me South ydrxsniiesiiixe eommiuee which by and Verge

phyed me rare of esiannening aawodav readaieniiz dc me sinke aimost im-med'\a\e\V forming iriemsenyes imn aenisionax eemminee under a coor-dmaled command. Tne SouthVmkshma ieadeisnip decided an na—

nanax aides and orgarfssd andfinanced ine flvmg nlltkevs It was aedexernpxary in devempmg rank and meand cammumw Damcinnion In mesinks. organising a senes ol iamasanddeinonsnaiidns ID keep the mass avSmkels invdimed and Invoh/ed. The

South Yonulu V‘ e—n'-ueeswe-eniienetocn-and-Iwhanmesmselings.

Thvoughmn the sake, nu: u1fi—

cials in South wax-emu mnmionalline an siis, resisting demands for bet—

tar mckal are-an ion and massmselings so that me piexais main.sewes edurd control the diieeiidn (.11

me strike. Desnne xnis, Soulh waness1ae{workels began \o orgznbe to in-

cieesa rank end we conimx dr mesenke. Vn Caldiwt, e amen (own haus—

mg Uunwem sreaxwdikeis, weeklyDicket meafings were opened ‘0neerwdrkem, men» WIVES andhusbands. Each weak, wenooszenplecmwded into me idiax Runbv Chmcodiscuss the issues raised by me strike,omnsse piakeung for me wedt, andsex uv a land edapeiam «oi SlflkEVS'ianmies.

Fiom seen u meefing, a wanien'spmket was set up ta increase parIimpa—

men an Woman seaiwdikais in mesinks Piexei Veadels became sdcmsuaiaiby me lack cf aueciiun humthe idea dmuais that may nraanisudtwo unoffinia\ meetings dc piekaxa inme zasi week of me suike. AI me firs:af «need. 300 Dllikels voled ‘KO igmneme ccmnmee M Enquiryand stav aman snike until me labs issue was ml»ued. Ev me end Hf me week, it wascleanhal l|'V€VWeYe abne in mis siand.Reeagnising me, memo pickets votedIavemmInwnrk.Eu(I|1Ey aLse agreed‘in comr-mt curseh/es In wake ndusinai

man agnlnsl iedendaneies iv neeessaw we should canvass uniors na—

manyand Vocaflvwuvganlselhe «gmegainsi [obs mes’

A emnmniae based on a singlefeglun did no: have me aumanlv m

ooanlv seek ihe Isadarshlu ohhe slrikeon a narional oas . Many thingshad idbe done oehind rhe scenes. This laidiha bails fur (ha emergence or sheuooihcial nailonal solke oomrnmae.Aoain rho nnlarye oorns irorn sourhvorkshire. The Vlrsl nreeiing was heldin ihe ssyenih week oi ine dispute wirlrlepiasamaliveslmm rnosioraos. Fvumrhen on n held iegulav weeklymaellngs.

The ooleenyos of ihe unoiiroial oi:lm—

mmaa were ro rnsko gaod nanonallyme srrrkerr deiermrnouon to swp mernovorneni oi all noel, ‘o axlend theaerion ro mzjol s-reel users; and InDopulame ine oblecnve or 20 per eenrwlrh no smnos. ll was in. unoiherelnanonol snike eornrninee whichdserdsd lo try and close FordDaoonharn, ioe leroesr olorrr rn arnaro.whioh in me hnal week oi rhe s1rikewas under serious rhrear af irnrnioenrclosures. This way also took me n—

inonve in organising looores of lhe na—

rlonal leadership rneerings or my to pie—

vent a ssll-oui The emergenceoi sucha national sinks comm dos used onclass srmgglo rnrlnanis n ihs looalnieshas no precedent disputes in reeenrveers and ii lhreaienod ta rake menmrllng oi iha s1rlke nut oi the handsoi rhe lsrc oureaoeracy.

Tn be sole. ll neyer aohseyeo rheoreorollriy ID challenge sus. For all rhsirlklallves lr was able to taker lisweakness lay VI rhe laek oi firm wn—iaers aeross \helndusIry,l:11e diiirounyoi gaining the oonlidenoe oi keymlllrarl1s,aridIfieirlac>< oi iradrdon andwtllsriance Bul ior his reason 2: wasneeesarv ior all ihose wlrlllng roslrenglhen rhe eloss suuggle leader-ship maid me ourldang onhe imufilcialnailonal strike cornrnruee and ro silo

osge 7

oon rhe koy rnllriaors inyolyeo.unionunorely. rho acliviiiex oi ihe

soolslisr Walkers party orw dsineizoirorn rhls. ii Wm iaunehao ma RealSIee/News oulleiin, ried openly ro meswlz in many areas, Heal SteelNews was counlevpossd to bulmirsorodueeo bv oroeoar orounlnos oisreel rniliianis. ln Newoorr, the SWPnriused ro panic-vain wrih iha lMG nohelp Llanwarn smelworkals — many oirhenr Labour Party members — to plo-ouos Uanwerrl sreex sheer. The (enIssueS oi ihls sneamorkers’ oullennnroduoao dunno the sinks were thanonly oonrasr pickets hao wiih rho localand nsironal iighr ior 20 vei ceni. withno iadund-Incy slllngs. szeel Sharerrneedngs had a vegulzr onendanoe ofaround 20 seeelworkers irorn diiierenisreei urrrooeeno will connnua olurrrheielum lo vwrk co organise for: non: onzoos and oemooraoy inside the uni s

In response ro xhe iailure or this pvu—

jzifir ii men launeheo Stnel Warksrscnamer, oonhls came our oi iha blue,unconnecmd ro lhe rankarldfileleadership of the sinks The iormsllycorrect demands of we eharrer wererhereiore nor ioughr ior as answers ioIhe problems mauhis layer oinriliranrswas auemvlina In answer and mernilnoniswho looked ioihe SWP wereoireered away from me key ask ofholding une unofficial hsironsl srrikeoornrnmse.

The tmal leek nf inlluamya oi lhecornrnunisr Party arnong me oedyesfikers mean! um me local classstmqgle loaoarsh lo not have dieouraen oi the trad‘ onol ’Emad Left’sosxegy. which anenrois lo suoor—

oinaro aerrons tn the wlshas oi leflooreaosrors. Em ihe CF old nlav m role

page er

in the strike — esseniiauy ans cfsahovagn.

For the strike To succeed, manufzvluring indus1vy had (0 be M. siewardsand union diiiciais 1ed by me c? 31 ainaaung as We Confederauon di Ship»bu ing and Engineering Unions heldin Sheffieid during ma sixm week avthe strike ieiused ID zxlend a boycottm an siaai pvoduns. nus was despitean smnasinned men by EamardConnolly of me scum Vurkshire s1rikecdinnmee, mam by Kanh Jones,ma idcar ISTC oificiai.

Ford is anamer example. DanConnms, Ihe Issuing CF convenor atDagznham, was uanyta an agreementIn iinnx picketing — &a«niaiiy an ampsite! — which wauid have niaam Fovdcamd hm curmnued working indefi—nitzlv u was dniyine determination ofme rankrandklfle piekais mun SmmVovkshire which succeeded in i:hang—

in; ms. aux m that «me, me mikewas in in (warm: weak, The upreodgmsaa in words — as indeed cfdsirs — that I11: strike was a suuggiaagainst the Yew government. Bu! itrelused (0 amen! (he logic of mis.

II a daieaxim the sleelwclkerswas adefeat in: the whole class, men aue«y—

ming possnais mm to be dune In aid 2smelworkars. II waa vital to ganaaizseWe hnks which began in develop bet-ween \he siaaiwamars, miners anddackers ~ as well as the puHing in ofmhersacmls — imwa ganaiai s1rIk21obring dawn me guverlvnenl It isnypdaisy in say I!iauhe¢ew§n‘(s1p~pm in me werkmg mass can (hesleelwnrkers From me man oi masisei sinks minus, miworkers, anddockers in numam dam oflenedsolidzmv ID me sidei wmais avvd H'I\~

piernenxad a boycott, n was lhe zeiusai

it lh: me ‘In u-p'— mlkxavily

acmsinaboanm-xiii-:ni‘a.Thaiaai simaiiun was sum in mg docks.Dockers in ma mllimnl was 01 Liver-pool and Han responded imrvuadialzlv.Em action in other puns was untchv.

When an isvue pvaemsd ixself in mamm 01 Lwemoei, 5,000 dackerswalked nut. The day me stiesi smkewas called of! was K) have been theaim of an almui nauunai duck slrike in

sdiidamy wblh ma steeivvarkers,decided upon by a naxionai daiegmacorwerenee Such men could havebeen urgamsed from ma beginning,exdem far the reiusai at ma nationalieadeisnip at me Transpon andGanexai Workers union ~ me maindnckaws union.

Al the beginning M ma snike, uaaeuniona throughout Wales demons-uaxad men suppurl for mesleéwmkers nan: an mus. Twe hunrdied thousand walkers s1ruck an 22January as me iim shot In a plan cfstrike action in cuiminam VI a virtualgenemlstuke in March. Tamfied oftheimpiicandns M such aC\im'|, LenMurray IuccE§ful|v pieaded wim thewinds TUC ID 'cDDI in and posmdname acliun. Soulh Wales miners hadmany baHL7nad in laveur dr slrlkeanion for jobs. Faced wiih inis ienaaiby me run in waxes and England, andins rzrusai at me man unions IDbroaden their smke In me jobs sue,the miners wave unprepared to strikeou: alone.

The mwu ieadersinp was me min

nrolsiein wini zrlotherkeyseelor — thelorry uriveis. For me lirsi sniciai weekof ins slrlks, only a clear lnslrucllcnnot In em slrcalled 'primary' nioxeiswas given. The decisinn ofwhelhertucross pickeis of tmckhmdels andniaior ussrs was lsl: up to ms ’l:lms—

cIsnca' af llis drivers. ms was iliter—

pieneo by most local onieeeuaisas aninvivallnn to cross plckel linns, mussaooianirin eflective plcketmg. II wasonly in the ninili week Ihuta clearer In’stluctlcn weni our. The bosses werenol so innihiieo They mganlsed amassrye opemion (O snare ineavailable slooknilsd sreel, and aidedand aoelieo by asc management,mey kepl iinpons rolling in Ihloughlinreoislsrsa pans.

The sellam pnlicies oi vhe unionleaoersnios was all ola nleaa wnli flheiv

oyeralislroiegy ma fhmst omia ISTCcampaign was to ‘ind ct me irlefficienlnianaoenieriiol BSD and iis lack ofanaggrszye e-xpun onye.

ll is lme that asc management isbad. Buveaucyziic management innoili me pu and private sectors willbreed ineliisiency — only wuvkers’conlrol or prcductinn by an infurmedwuvkfmceznd wimirline frsmeworkofa workers’ plan lnr me lndusfly as awnols can Ellmlnate wasie and lneffl—ciency in Ialgescale production. Eu!lne wasis or resources exhrbiled by

ssc rnansgernenr arisss nol lrum n—

oonineienoe ml lroni wvong planningnrsoielions due in me onaos oi lineiaonallsi markel To demand irnonncan nls lo deal wnli liiis is lo canlirlueis l n wiili me bosses in vying ionzsnlve Ybelr problem at me rxvans: orworkers — ens nine loreign walkers.

But me needs oi sleel workers asrevealed in me sieei sink: was sriuwn

page 3(0 be snlidalily with fumign walkersTne new elm snuggle leaoeisliiowhich is bzglnnlng to lorni am vf meexperience oflhe s ke niusi esnire llsslrsiaoy on opposing root ano nranelime lationzlkalion stvategv of ass ariame lories This must some on Ihesafeguarding aljobs, opnosiiion In anyniylno off and me ioial naoonallsaaioricf Ill sieel, inellioing smckhulders.

The Tory cash 'iniis have lo besrnashed, and a subsidy 10 says labsloroso on me goyernrnenz. nie slammy palm needs in bethasaleguavdlngof me guaranteed 40-Noll! week Thisslioolo ne exnenoee lo a total policy ofwcrkshavlng wiln nu loss ol say. Theshop slewaras Commlhees wnien haveoeen established in South Verkshllzrnusl bu exlended nacionollyand a nz—oonal wniliine coniniinee lorrned.noinniineem a class s1rugg|e simegyI0 saye labs.

Such shop flour organssiiori will beemniiai lor souili Wales siisalwoikersin me jobs fighl ahaad. They will have[0 cu! mrolign ine inazflivliy and con»promises ol lhe nalional orficials andllieir stooges ai Uarlwelrl and PerlTalbut. Plans lav an action ooinrriimeetn figh! ledundanclesat Llarlwem andPan mom slieulu be given full sun-purl lroni sleelwurkelsIhmughaul mscountry Proposals xo open mls com-mines to rnineis, Porl Talboi work:-.ls.dnckals ano nansonri walkers snowinal uanwern sieeiworkecs iecogniselney cannot fight lor ions alone.

The fionl nas io 90 on mslds ISTC.Thellals/an corninii-ieelorinereionn oime ISTC, wnioli exlslsd laeaore mesmka, can now be placed on 3 iii liarlsyel, irnegraiing um snuggle policiesinlo ine iigmloraernoeraiie cnmml MXhe union. niis is now me lask o

page 10

A strike against theToriesby Bernard Connolly (cranswnvenor. Rntherham)

we steeNvar1<ars's1r1<e was nsr s1mp—Iv about warkers‘ pay, or nbcul pubs.

ms was a s1n'ke ser up by me Toryeeyerrnenr, asa ms: vound In a «gm laeesmy me trade union rnsyernenr.were is no quesfinn sham andeysryene — unleg mey were rorauypslzrieany name » reeagnised n. Allme omens or me unions involvedeuearw unaersrese rr.

wnar diseppovnled zmusanes 00rank and fie workers in me sreex insduslrv s meme e«ie»a4s of me labourmavemem answee it no nappen,knowing mu new View their mm wouldsome

Tne stash/vcrkers use nor lose thefight. They won many rounds m orefight. Tme. It wasn't a knueseeur; memwel was Khrwwn ‘m What can melxghter do when rne manager rnrawstheluwel in?

It is reauy as haswc and male asmar The sueenwerkers (hemselvesdun‘! consider they have Vast. Theyconsidev mey were sold out, and areyeryniuerasoum wreyareyeryn erahoul meaeepra who mey have lisv;en—

ed to for years; who ser years havegryan mimnr speechss; bul me,when me chips were realty down,werern r¥apared m Dick up megaunuac. nese Vabaur leaders shut!‘/«

shamed, with an eye on me massrnemaersnio who affect rnerr ysres.

TheTL1CcsrIa\’n|ydid ner hve upmus responsrsamzes. Len Murray dvdnernang enrer «nan make attumms toget a esmprarnise as me ease for eseliroul. There was neyer any reafislicsuunun: svervon. was nus: wine Infind an avenue In gei me me off thehack.

Whatever nrienr be said about medrreclive af some unicns inwrveu, likeme Trznswfl and eenerax WorkeIs'Uman, we gm rremeneaus supportfrom me T86 In me docks andamongst many dnvars — «ha tankeranyers, me Eritish oxvgen Companyom/ers, and orner steelrcarrvinganyers.

The rauwav workers gave usrrernenams supwn and H every unionrn xhe mc had conuewee lhem, rhostnka wumd have ended l1uvckVV. Formstance, M are E\ev:m'cians' Unmn hadsaid ‘We're Iakmg am «he breakers

my vou samv our members wrrn amaswnable sememenrx or iv meEnqmeering Union had came to ouraim, then me strike could have beenover in a rnenrn, sucasssfmly.

The TUC cumd have done mm.mm. more. They zusr sat on men

handsDunngthesmke mere were us—

srdns nerween me miners and theSteelvvurkers m Vmksmre. The nan:wing in me Mmers’ unrnn were makingnoises aI\eadrership\eveHhalIl1esUikewas run noxrueax. But rney reeuy knew«name goyemrnenr was raking on mennrnns In mecemea\ lashlon, and meTUC was aumrnng Thaxerrer to do n

The exeemiye rnerneers 01 meVorkshive mum gave a measure ofsupport nnanerauy and rnerany. amwhen asked if my woum can nut thepits in sunpnn steamcrkersr uneyremind ’WeH, iv we call rrrern our andrney dun’: eorne, Ihen Thatcher will

use n be her advantage’.am smely sne used n to her advan—

Iage when they werervr nlled mu’ H

me rmners had been oaued mu. aueasrTnarcnarwould have seen me union'sexecutive was wnn me smkevs Whenmy weren't eaued out she could onwhaw oenemded mar nobodywas wrcn

us, and mar everyone was 51anding byauowmg me goyemrnenr to carve usup, praoameel, as Tnmendefl in me livstmace.

The TUC and aH rne umons invulv—

ed were very aware af me Rinleyneeon and knew eroerxy wnar was ers1ake. The TUC knew the bank: planvfIhe enemy wen in adyanee. yer sarback and auowed the enemy ta fighlbased en mar plan.

Organisation of me crafts invorlenire

Pnor m Ihe smke, lh: crafts wavesrrongvy ergamsed in verusryre YheSouth Vcrkshnre cmmmxtlee recL7m—

mended to re members that nmuneshould crtfis mckel hues Ourmembers have never turned down a

page H

moammendzliun irom the eemmmeeso, fmm day me, me eraars were umakmg wirn me Iron and sreal mdesConfedemicm members.

In Rntherham, a Strike head-quaners was sec up we» crafts, prim locrn-isrrnas. we set up a smke cnmmmxee and from that ebecled a lvnancIa\eammmae Then nickel cumml enrswere esranrened. There were a\sevarious bodies fol fund—vais\rvg,

speakers, wansparl, meetingorganisers, and so on.

me srnke eomrnmee was aspecially elecred ooay lrum a shopsmwmds eornmnree meeung. 11 wasagreed to run me sznke anmosr hke annmary eampargn There was to be nosnuanen where vulunleevs were askedvor Instead, erereca should eperere ondvrenl instrucliuns from me srewamswne were made inm marshzlb.

The wee was for me srewarde xo

look are men awn members n ceus.were were a rmxnue of ca! s; somebased en geography, omers Lvnflepammenus.

The structure wmked and arRernemanr, crafts had berween asand90 pet oenr 0! member:acuvew im/o\v—

ed: 90 per eenr for me crrsr 10 weeks?sonrermno hke abaul so pel eem rn rneIasr two weeks. Twelve rwndredpickets em or mm members were onme streexsloralmosl rnree monrns Arme enu, eenoxe gut a bu dwsappmnmdin me Veadership. They felt they werenemg suld cut and sr was ooimress recormnue ligmmg agamsl xhe hrevavchymar was rrnern an saumg (hem nu:

rne sen rnarsnaus mex weaklyTney man‘! came nno me neaoquarters, because eeeoue snnna aboutwasrvr encouraged we never pm 155

rysge 12

on or emcee, er sandwiches. wernereiy eero picker rneney n me iorrrro1 oerrei money re ger Ihe pickers ontome sires.

The rrurshails rang in to me head—

ouaners each evenrng atsix o'clock insee ii rnerewas any change in rrrarr VI—

slrucliuns. On numemus ocmsions, aerre—ieeo oroickerswoere ae needeo atiz hours’ neuce, and airrrerrgrr H

rneenr a ier at work iorrire erekei con(ml, the call was aiways rner.AI Romerham, rnere was a cioae

liaison aerwcerr the arms srrrke cL7m—

rnrnee and oxner unions. aarsroekserioge rrnrneorareiy gar a singlesrnke eonrrrrirree mqemer, comenseoof an rrniorre.

sireifieio was very split, howeverwere was craft Drgankalian in meRiver Don exam. in 1'ins|ey Park,newevar, cran erganisarien was basedin e ieeai pub The TEGWU and mesenerai ana Municipal workers’Uninnrner in rrnomer gab, nnaiiv me VSTCopsramd irorn a esrevan, wirn a callbox eewn me road.

There was a eig erion ta oer rrrernan organseo under one reov so matseem varksnrre would nave mree setsnus’ a Slo1:ksbv'idge,a Sheflreid and afiutherham grorrg. This was suesessful Premises were roano andsnemeia gor operarrve. They weresinrggirng ier irrnas, ane men’; knowwhen way re mm, se thev were givenno.

in me eeriy sraees of me dispute,Sheffielfl workers were an pullingagainar seen orner Ar ene srrike mm—rnrnee in a iocai pub, air mesrseiworkers sax nayrng great oeeereswrrrre sreer was pawng rrneer iireirvery wrneew inre s rrnn nor 200 yardsve me roao in vaora Romerham iiyine

eeii visrree mu firm, ane snar il downwithin 24 hours! ir was possible‘ butsrremsro was a er: disoriented ar thatstage

in adifnlon (u the rnree werksairikecerrrrnirreee, we set up a divkinriaisrrike commiwae ior sorrrn vorksinreTrrrs was orgensee by me ISTC butother unions gm mvoived The overall::a—L7minaliL:n M me srrike Lame irorrrLhis commmue

in some ways, rnrs was dbavvcirvfing because a cearrai Cirordinalingcornrnmae was aiso sel ag, oerrer ayrnery wf masum, peopie aron'r giveurns boey the seegonano eooeeranenir srreaie nave nae if n had been mero operate in a ceorernaree iashiml, irworm nave oener greoaredsreeiwerkere ior aner rne srrike. Areeogniseo, cenlral cornrnmse wrrrr anor of credibihty ceeie nave helaedwere mgemer me unity eainee in ISweeks 01 srrueeie.

rne coer Inaflng oernrnmeemanaged re gel ragrriar rneeengs oime conieoererron er srrieouiierng andEngineering, Number 22 a once aweek, at me ireignr er rne surke. Thismay is a mixture of aii sons of irrrnswirn yaryrng degmes 01 strength andergenrsarrerr. The o roers argued rrrarrrrerrr werrie ae rag resismnoehom meworkers inrrey weren't askeoro ga outan ea in srnke ano iess iorai wages.Their argvrnenr was mar seen merewerrio ee iavoffs wi'1h iaymi pay andthis weeie producea better response.

But rrrrs aoproach faiied iorecugmse me poirucei enaraorer M mesrnke. Ridlev nae seen ir out eieoriy.The Teries were taking on what rrreyrneognr was a weak battallrari It wasen mar basis rrrar we rrrgee ceniee

member: ID ebme em. Them weve bigsmexs of steel max wmd‘ ane ,keep them wenang «or weeks, \n ram,because me workers were N71 givencorrect direcnnn, and were not an puU—

ed out, me resamhon of support wasbraken al some firms ‘us: as me sinkshegan me me Scab saeex began :b beumuaded.

Sn ameuen me Central Cour-dinaling Comminee gm mese weeklycenvee meeengs, .1 mean‘: really maymuch at a rune, eesbne me Ebod af-fans cf seme mvhlarus. Th: grampotenfial snengm be we ebmmmeewas that {I vowed a mulwunion sexup. The ISTC muwmmvon mama:ebmmzuee came out as mas cenbancbmmmee, bu me :51: man‘: sun—UUI1 me cemmn cbmmmee as Ilwas. re

mrgm have been a queslron of trust.The ISTC propused Ihar (W0

membevs from each man sboem beon me cennax cbommbng Cnmrvutlee, and eenegezes wave abated accor—dmgw There were nb fulldime ownerson me buoy. Vt

was Mected dlrectfromme vank and me leadsrshwp ms bodysome have mamlamsd me wmpetus

page v3

aner me strike mum more than melSTC—orienIefl di\/siona\ eemmmee.The ISTC e. mena: cumnflnee did avery wbnbwrme lab and go! ms M benon pushed mmugh Ye: sbmemmesuperior was in our gvasp and we Won.1

The Central cbbmznanng Comrmrlee ebma have been mamamee asanother Form of eemmmee after mesmke. Beeausechamiem happen, mepieces now need [0 be packed be mgive a berm: (meat! to aH me umwereavea during me strike.

National OrganisationThe National smxe Cnmmmee

eame abem because we hierarchy mme ueae umbn mbvemenuanea to noordmake and argamse me slrike eheolively. Yhe sugeesuen (by such 5 bodycame from a shemexe meelinflaememam wem abng wnh ms.

The eemmmee wowed delegatesfrom webs and sebuene, as weu asSouth Yorkshire am me wexsbdelegates we very hamslmng enebed down w4(h ufficialdcm The casenf workers mm me North-east wasverysi . r.Theoffic:a|5wa1ekeeDm1Ja new rem on me smke commmees mthose areas

The mason Ihey gave for nut CDm—mg m (he meeung ms was mayunderstand me semmzuee was consnenee wim me wsrc Reform omen,esxablished behave me smkeIa fight bndemanvacv m me umnn This was un—

\rue. Steelwmkers were concernedwzm me argarusanon e: we strike.They wsnled m we slmaxions whereseem Varkshwre was 5ermng pickersto — say me Mmenee — and upan av

page IA

nva\ found wersn prcke-rs mere: Scabtush piekes mere: and so an.

Funhevmme rne anron Vandalsannos: every week were makmgslalemems ro me press invalvmgU-turns Ir was alrnosr imuassmle tokeep an me contradictions, re:akxne keep me strike gning rn rne rsgnrdirection wim rne confusxon rnae weeoausrno.

The cornrninee exisreo ror sevenweeks we senr off a number oftelegrams xo the exeoutwas or meumans vwalved we arrenrpuea scmaIabbyxng exercises 0! executiverneerzngs; as wen as arner aerrons.

For years we anron Veadershxvs hadsaid to sxearworkers, ’G1ve us theUUUVS, and wen one you rne Veadebsmp’ wen, Ihe troops werernere, butrne xeaaensnro was rnrssrno. we need-ed rne NatiL7na1 Slrike cornnrrnee romake sure rne Imops went fnrvvardanyway‘ aar nere once agorn, rrnsbodv had wls «mes — It svanud Kale rnme smke, and rnere we big duf-‘Iemnccs in me levels or rn mrvcy ar enanonal level

The impact of the sell-out inYorkshire

wnen rne slee\-workers erann wassure our, Smzm Yorkshire had no canswat wnexner n shuuid remarn nut. 11

wa5 Near rne deal was rushed Ihroughrne canrrnrrree of Enumry. nnas neveroeen known before rora corrnnrnee wfrnar nerare re sn an a saxaroey andsanoev, ano rne reean af ns errorrsmaekeo very muth or rne Samuel:senlemenl or rszrs

Tm: governmenr had saw beforerne Cornmutee even starred rner Iiwashavrng rmxmng ro oo wnlh n ear smce

mev hold the Purse stnngs ir was verVobvmus rnar 51ea\wDvkers weren'r goingm get muchlmm nsa ' rations,and whatever was am womd nava n:be paid forwnh roos. so me Comm —

tea was set up ro save me me 9! car-rain people Tn me neaersnro wnofound Iharnselves rn a snoauon rneydidn't know now ra oer out 0! —wnere rnev had Vast wmml, ano thesrnke cornnrnrees were askrna lhemmrake a nee The union Vezdevshipwanled ro ragzm comm! of lhelruniurrs, and so they wrrrnea memblsrsback ac work where rnev ccmd exeruse are: eonnal.

soarn vorksmre had beensrrornenel m ::\Lmng «own are Fwdwant u oaaennarn on me Mondaybehzre me semernerrr was pul re thenegauatirvg eornnmee ltwaslhuughlthis wauid affect me unrnkrno of theIeaeorsnip Funhevmove, rne ooekerswere ready to name am on naIinna\s1nke A number of omer rnouerrieewere auso cornrng up (or nsgunamnsane irwes dearthe leadership wasjustas enara as the government and meemproyrna Mass. II would soon be aszroauan alz orrn rnro a geneval strike.

The oareeucrara were rerrinee olwner rne resanu would be ‘M rne smkehad oernrnaaa anornerrnornnwith rnepm/ate seclvr rn sreen ano rne mlvvnysrn rne rnzooze or neguuaunns.

There wasa 4m ofenoer In me parkrn Sheffizld wnere rne eemernenrwasvoreo on Ix was raken out eoarnsr maonanorrn wnrcn was cnmpnsed vfmembers of rne seam vorksnrre svikecommmee. n was a d\'fflcu\t raorraandecxstmv re reeornrneno vorksnrreshomd velum. Pevhzps rne langnermaffects of a narionas flock strike were

i

I

s

ner eensreeree serreesry enough. Butstrike leaders on me marfwm arguecthat because we umon exeeurrve hadsaid am we wurkers, ure supeerralready won womd rrer carmnue. Thenthe erreer 5 re the erwers, and theHackers actions would ee wwthdrzwn.Furlharmnre, the munev Io mamvamme pickets wuwd have dned uur Dncaerhsr areas vemmed. and Lheve weerabe rre eerrer money 01 errrer rerrrrs 01

assistance

The gains ol the strike

The mam earns of aur srrugexewere eerrrerrsrreree me day zflev mereturn‘ when workers came out agamGreat unity and sohdanty waserepravee. am mrs rs rerrueus even m—

eey, because iris nut ergerrsea anderranneuea. sreerwerkers have

page 15

erseeeerecx xhev can «gm-, they arehave the [enemy erre energvfL7rsrmg-gxe: arre mev can me. This umw hasbeen ieegmcer, New rr's gum: ee weHused.

xrr South Vnrkshire sr wru ee eesrerre develup fun‘-her mgamsahon. AH Iheerrrerrs came em wgelher and ageneral reseecr grew emerresr meworldoroe The crzhs refused re goback before the resr 04 the workers, forrnsrerree Vn Saum Wakzslms could be

mere ermcurr were me rsvc wemback and rrre crafts remeea wrrerr Ihersrc came Lmnhe dzv alrer ureseeremam, me cralxs rerrrrnee se bumcrossed each umevs‘ eerre« hues aha!eerrre err smkc logexhev for 13 weeks!

South Vmksmve has re ensure rrrarme resserrs rr has dvawn are malruawrr20. we have re shuw what we have

me 15

learneo rrr oraoriee, so other araas wl|loarerr on, one see me sdvamages.

lris nor pu$lh|e Ioday ro sir back l'n

one area and say: well we seem ro beall right in our osnroolar orvisionx Thesvewards mnvamam rs onoer anaelr byone eovornrrrenr. Thatcher isn't loowcmed aoolrr the bumauclacy. omsne deem’! know nowlo oaal wirn thesrewaros movement.

we arnaoing roseewnar rs hapgen—lng rn Sumh vonrsnrre today. The ablack nere s anuzlly less mananywhere else. Va‘ ‘he dangers haveoaorr regisrerea ano worksrs havemulled ro oollecr their la.-rlanoa. 4n

somn Wales, seorlarro and me Nl:r—

lheasl, Workers seem ro believe theyare rn arr isolarerl, insular oosilronsThat's nor at all good.

The fight fnrjobs in soon. walesrnos1 begin. solrrlr vorkslnrro is ol>worrsv ounoseo ro .oo losses. Em rnafighl must ernanale lronr lne areawrrion is aneorsa.

our today rapid moves are neeoeolo organise me unily w11ll:h exs1s.Thalasr rnaering ol Ihe srrrlre oornrnrneonos vet to no lzlled. This eornrrrirraeshould he wound up as a smke body.and sranerl again as a oo.oroirranngcummitee.

It's elear that more lramas lraaneao arro wl: rreeo ro oe prepared,Central to what is going ro naooennow is me light agalns rerlonoarreres.Tlreomeral leeoe hip will norloaothatfight. Asfaras ms corlcemefl, rnerooshave already been solo

ln me slllke, lne orsroal loaoersnlonieo ro sell us out lronr day one. lmadro be oraggeo mlrrno ano scvezrrlirlgel/EN sleo of rlre way. Trris will be meease on roos

ll is no aeoioenr rnsr soorn wales

has been Picked ofl Tnere nas oeon acampaign lor some yeals to pump inroln heads that n is lnair fault mar xnesteel rnoosuv in in crisis. That log»: ofrnarragenronl and the Tune: nas lo oekmgm.

wlron leaking ar rne zltelnztlves inme Torres‘ plans for rne aririsn sreelcorooranon, lne nrsl thing lo oonsioeris nor he needs of rnrloslry. but meneeds nf me membelshlo. Faced wirnthelhleateflolo loss. a sharrerwarklngweek is efientlal. ms can‘! be madean excuse lor rnore orrenirne. on meorall sroe rn Rolherharrl, Lamrnornoers wurk IU,D00 noors of over—linre eaelr week. Tninlr now manymore Beanie Could oe employed llrlrarwas out our.

sornenrnes nvemme nas in heoone rn an emergency, buntshuuld oepncsd so nign mar managemem isfamed to emm/V ‘More laoorlr. lrsnoulo oe treble or auoonlele rzlne

lr rs me leans, vol slill workerscan't rem oelore me age or so. Szh—

oanoalar longer nolioays, ano longersnroying alsorroolswould orw henemworkers. How long is ir since we wonrne 4o-norrr week?

Everyone is in favour ol the newreonnologv lo Improve emeierroy. Eu!wno hene!i\s7 llsnoolo oe lne workrngclass.

Tnese are me kinds ol oolieles rnarours are mtsrasls uf lno walking clasaneaa uf ma Dmflts of ssc Todayllnere elem:-my rnore aenvers sinoe rnelzweelr sorlre, arro rr wrll be an upnrlloezlla. Tne lrnoinr.-ial nalional srrlreoornrrrmoe had lo orgamse dunrlg rnestrike because rna ISTC wuu\drl'I da llolrrolelly And in rne llgnr m/er jobs,wrll be once again come down romlhvams taking a slrong lead a

Stee|women’spowerby Celia Pugh (sooiallsgChallznye conespnndznl Irl wales)

wlen of Ems!’ became a popularnewspaper onlp durlng the slnke. sownar aooor Ihe wumen sroorworxerswho make up In per cent ol mernemoersnlp at me lron and steelTrades conlederanon {ISTCV A vkitto any plcket lrne during the smkeshowed that women were mere,alonoslde men. And women walerftpus! eonllned 10 local picket lmss.

ln Slocksbrlflge, 60wom2n’s nameswere on me nlcketlisland as Enld, panomre plcketsquad (hatwenno ErilishLeylond rn Cowley, explain we hada vasr response lrom women, we arerryrng lo snow that women will dowear men wlll. weye oeen all over sfrom Hadnelds ID sneernessx

Many women ‘ln me snesl Industrywalk in me uffices, eanreens and ascleaners. Maimie Hill, a cleaner elBr'lIl'sh sreel Slalnles In sr-emeld wason me Cowley plokel Ine srre wantedlo nelp om ln me smke ‘in get our Mare noose and in looen wnn othels1v'lkers‘

Many women ln the rnonslry wmkon prpdoerlon. waollne sendrawlon,lor lnsranee, works as a tame pnyer inme Cavge noel Steelworks ln mo,dlosprooon. Wovkmg wrlo reo normeral, sne and 24 other women, nelppvoduce rallway lrne beams and crane

page 17

=I-pylons, Henob lnydlyes onsooral noorsand tskurhome pay af £40 lo :45 perweekpefole me drspore. nunno lnestrike she txplalned that Middlesbrough women nad taken an ac-five read we have me sarne lnlerear inme slrike as men. we wanl zn per eenrwllnoor emngs. wewe been on llylngplckms lo slrrnlnonam and London.and omside Ihe ISTC Execuuve Calmsdl meedno :0 let Bill Slrs know weWon’! some fur anylmng less rnan mololl ciaim’

As rrre some wenr on, n becameclear max women weverfl wnlent toplay men tratfltional sunpnmve roleMellene Tuvev. an ISTC memoerlrornIhe uanwern plan! ln wales, recallsmax ‘at me oeornnlno ol me suike,women were rnosrly inyoweo ln making tea and sandwrenes.rnen

l nelueosrarr a picket role that an H’! wnlr pick—

mo up ms klds horn sorrool.we fuund max ‘ll men were around,

llrey wanred ID put us [0 one slde, anddeal wlln Ihe lorry onyers. ms wasn'taooevvaolelous. we wee pus! as ableIn plekezl ln we end, we mxdethe menso back and drlnk that coffee wnrle wetalked tn the dnvers. If we had roslsmall In pickellng wlrn men we wouldnol naye got am/whole‘

page Y8

snio, ircm sioomrioge works,agreed wnn inzs Win!’ ‘We ueoiaeoins: women snoolo be organisedseuaianzly hvm the men because inemen weren't leuino us play our lollpart‘ wnn mls oeienninelion hornSmcksbvldge women sieelworkeis, nwas no accident mat it was so women(mm siocksomge the} set off to: mesneernos oioon at a lime wnen thepress was trying ID whip up a hack towork’ Stun! amongst sinxeis wivesThem. Tno Stocksbndge women wereenneo with placards ano banners proeloiming‘Scum Vclrkslwewomennaaeseam’

am the lnvulvernenl M husbandsano wives ol sieeiwuvkers was proboow mos! oevelooeo in me smalltown of caloioon on me welsnlsnglisn ooioe« where manysteeIwcrkers'1amllies live. Each week,strikers packed mm the looal Rugbyclub, to discuss that next move Thiswas wneie Meilene Tovlyy first oio—

ooseo me women‘: picks! mm, andsnealso med to involve strikers’ wives.wneea woman W916 stuck at home allday wiin (He hills ooming n. Manyceuldrft oooe ano a In! or husbandsdidn't mecou. things wnn inem. Theywero Keftlnlhe om wnn me only newslion» me nevvsbape-s and tuib/.A1lLheyheard was now men hlmbands shouldbe alwark Thelessonlolnexuirllaisto find ways zo get me women mofe involved. lnvmng them to make!meeongs was a start.’

um um union slso nas (0 oo misson of mine we had no women onme slfike oommmee Because ms waselecledflom mose wnn uniun poms —me secrerarles ano enalnnen ol thebranches no women were in lhesepuslllons H1 Llanwem. H's a very male

dominated union-

Now max the strike is ave! MerierleTovey wisnes women no been involvoe eoniei we camd nave heldmore niaeongs. pcwbiy on a dlffevemnighttc «lie men. we could have gotmore women invulved and kept mlsgoing afbar me srrike — mavbe its sullnu! ma late. If there 15 arloxhel snike,we'll be geared up. The strike has l:er—

«only given me a lo: move confidence‘.Marlene Ttwey wuuld like (u see

me ooliiioal awanmess amongstwomen oominoe. Wno ywl'u3 womenafficaxralnees wno came along wnn usbegan ID ask mare ovesuons. oriolnaily mey inovonx may weie NS! our Var

pay. soi they've nao an education onwhat ir all about. Hall of mem maylooeine; oos lwoulo hketaseelhzmcome nlong In our Laban! l>any mas!-lugs ID get "N! oisoosoon lzken up’

Once me Gwelnmemsald me oasnllow ms beino cm, was clearltvvasaoolziioal strike, nu! just a uiileiencebetween me British Steel Camofauonand me onions, However, l do minkme Labour Parlv nasa Int lo learn emerme last Labour eovemmem. It lookslike a wzievsd-dawn Tory Pam/I wecan't put me s::l'm-7 lnno ol party hackeven ii we gel no o1 Margsvelrnexonei we nave In consider wnmlakes her place’

‘Em we musl also look al bur union.l would like 10 meet up wlin otherD:-nD\e1n(helSTCwmav.Iarl1mle1onnmu onion, and in see moie womentake no onion oosioons. I! would oegreat io discuss this wnn orne womenWI Ihe onion horn oiiieieni pare of meoounlnr. .

We must changeour unionby Ray Davies (ISTC menmer.LIIIYWBIU strika committee)

T

was debgated in menu me natvana\eenrerenee of the Han and Sim?!Trades Confederafion. i

new find (hiscurrferance has been cancelled The Isa nzgedvr pus: at me (me whensreexworkers have gained hash ex—

perience on the wake: hnes. The >STC,with other steel unions, has susmined1hefu||fu>nla\ znack nllhe Tones. TheTUC must be mane to stand by us Omnaxnorm eenaerence could havedsicussed this. we coma have re-queried me: me TUC sat gmnennsshue counlevzmadzk This shumd mciudeamasswe nanenax fund to back Irrdusma\ar:\mn1aken byumons who arepmkea an by me Tones The TUCshank! e4se be prepereu \o supplymakes and sohaerhy acncn whenmass smkss lake mace

one at me reasons am Svrs hescancebedthe conferencers bemusehefears the mm/es aluouo push througha me vf no confidence Tn mm and meoxher execunve members who suld usshun The Teehng on (he picket hnes isthat we were notsu much 521 back bythe Bmish Stem corporshen and meGovernment, has damovahsad by ourown <eseers and full—lime ofiicia\s, uslhe penpxe we pay In lead Lmr umonwho have been among our mgees:ener-mes They undurmined our can»fidcnce whh Ihelr national dealings‘

Thrs rs a iesun of the strike‘ wehave [0 make changes rn our unren.

Our nnron consmulimv was aesrgnea lor eerrmnens at the pasl, it mustnew be swem aeae Our offwclak

yage 15

shank! be sumac! to exeeuan and re,ewechen N we don't like what they aredoing. T-hrs is something we ave carvrpmgmng rer rn the Labour Parly. and nshows be extended In mu u bus 100The Execunve Council must be e<ecre-aon me basrs er me has! person for r.hejob, no! necesarily on e .egrenex basis.we can she Team T-rem w2ll—mgamsedareas Hke Caldicm They had massmeetmgs rrwemne steel wnrkels T-remurnerern moms and me wryes ofsrnkers, Evarvone was lnvulved inmaking dectswns about me mnnirvg of(he smke. u these mess rneenngs naehappened thvoughoux rhe smke,perhape our execuuyes week: havebeen more rn much whh what wewanted. Pemaus they would hm havebeen able 1:: get away with eeeephngen enemn, which srgneu away mums,

Slzelwnrkers hem ptckei nnesmmughaul me counlrv €93‘ has sameway as we do In Yurkshwe, WarT—

inqtcn, Swfiznd, and corny, they areas fed up as we are whn our umanleadevshxp and strucluves During thestrike we made links with members e+mher strike connuees Ihmugh theunofficIa\ Nananax Smke commrmeWe should now make evsry emm tnbeen up xhese links so mar we can gelthings changed aher (he strike. a

hnabmImnmhuuuru V5 lakmnrom me» Amieweeruerwem stoclshur ahmlzunpmaua.ew Llinwem neehrmxuvs Signed dunngxhnsmke, sway Sheet pwductun wrrr cunlmuu wavrnmgrflofl lemmas Ind mdumuuansnIhgsleemmorvs Ion/Shsets\ApmanmHvammaErvneermg Umon rn. rswc, and ma EVa:VVuT—

Naozmans’ Umnn U1 Llnrwnm and the seen,mam’ LJWIDH m Yon mum ...... reewm Inmxcux .h. camam or shut Short 3716 .e hyMam merryr-y rn xhesum umnns um um:sinwmrkuv anfl mleqnsmfl H1 eenreezhne Tn

see Shaeracuvntrzs VWVKI n, sew sww 5'175 SVdrreVSrIe:t, Nrwuun. swear, Wm:

page 20

The WarringtonBrick Brigadeby Conn Herd usrc corrvennr,Warrington)

me Wzrfingmn sreolwmks werernresrerrea with men ereerre evenbefore me sxriku began. Mast wurkersweeme-rsayesrs er age and prepamdto swear redundancy cheques.Duane mrs, Warvingmn was me percent solid — and were was a hard eereer pickets who wnuld go anvwherc. aranvtrme. Seamus: of me npemliarsearred out by the ‘eke! squads.James Andenvn, police chrer forGrearer Msncheslev, labelled us meWaningmn Brick Brigade’ we at-cenm mu gladly because our ope1a—

we were named an! on behzll olsleelworkem. rrede unionists and meworking class as a whwe.

we Ira»/eHed me Loumry Io pcinlswrrere we were needed. we fcuglgl «adose down Walkers rrr Blackburn, afirm ex.-rrrrrrng to be Europe’: largestsreer sreeknelaer, we rrawrrea over-night in London to occupy Ihe ISTCheadquaners we stop 2 znrexrenea sen-rm. We ruined me pTcken'n.g at Fmdspram In Dzszarrham, In Brmunghamand arm savgets.

The picket on Hadfielrfs privatesteel lirrn in sneflrembecame a syrnbolto lhousands of workers In me Normwest 11 svmbulised me united effortsof engineers, miners, zrsnspurrwotkels and sreewvuvkersagains1 rne

nurse and their backzrs rn Indusxry. rralso svmboiised xhe vvcvuus role of mepolice m defending the bosses’teresvs. Many ressere were Ialmed inme Hadfialds uperauon that snmrrarrrbe lorgutlen in me Dames that sull heahead.

Wavnngtun slnkers gm invmved inme Hadfiekis picket when a call wenrout (or as many hands as pessinre rereparr for pickeling In an unknawndesfirtalron in scum Vorkshve.Arrnougrr evervumz knew rr couid in—

verve heavy pickelrng, mmourvmunlsers met al one week n aremorning or re February

we amvufl at 3 mike centre in rnearea, and were given details ohhe 5ampicket. we were reminded abaut rnenumerous arresrs at Hadfislds m megreueus three weeks when Deaceiulvvckms rm taken macer

aerweerr 4.33am and 5am euv cuachwas mwved an mree occasionsby mepeace and me driver was eneuengedabout ms eesrrnauon, Fanunalelyr medriver had nal been told. Nevennemme police more or 5955 ended up escor—(mg our coach up to rne lap of weanRoad — one of the mapr raids run-rung past Haarrems,

wnen we arrived, we cou1dn't

behave me ammml cf police fumeCoach am: coach of police vahurleihnee the sveex — an ac them emply.We wamee m go amuha We corner to

m act with the res! or me nmkats a\me main entrance The mnversancnwvLh me pohce Ended when a weyeavald member 0! the wanihgmh hmnchwas hit across Ihe :heek—bone whh apolice Kruncheon. The mdn/Idua\ hadneverhaen ah pwcket duly befure m has

me. Two hundred pahce emce-s thanpmughed suzvgm mm the mass atwemhgmh mexeu. Ame and NI’

iunes — en hmh sides — foucwedAmund the earner, Armur ScaIgIH

and non Vnrkshwa mmers wed s1ee\—

walkers mm a swmflar eehvromauohwen we whee. whh (ms united seven,there was a complete and werwhehnrmy success and Hadiiems cvoeea eeflyin me anemoen of reemaw 14 The10H was heavy, however, and this con—

ivameuah became known as the sx\/a\emin2‘s Dav Massacve

04 course me vmlence by me uuhcenever became clear to me maprity oipeapxe in me country, Time and agalrlIhroughaux me sinks vm sew Iemmersand cameras fvom papers like meMlrror al these battles Yet Ihe henday, the phumgvaphs we know weretaken, never appeared. A1 Sheernesswe even wrrnessed a police mspactvrthrow over an enme mx cameva arm52: up an a mean. Bux hm .. word Mthis came UH ehher the six u’cVock arthe (97! o'clock nwvs.

Finally, we slaned m eehhem therepurlers ‘It's not up an us,‘ xhev said.‘we bur ecmors you should be aher.But who an: the editors? m Wawvngmh, we gave Iwu imervxzvws to meWu/nngm/I Guardran hDD\rV§ in build

up mckevs lhvouqh me cuvevage, and

2 \

suengmen me nackmg 01 the wives U!

the strikers. They refused w Drmleuher. The editor .5 a wewxhewh ugh!wzhg Tory. We sxpecled difliculnesbecause ufllvs, ahewe gm h, Bumowwe have a branch policy where thuspaper ws banned from umon mauers. hwiH nalberetumlng anhe negofialwansam: to take mace on nu-Av about the\ma\ closure nf the wanzhgwh wmks.

Thisis how we have In ueanwhh mepeople who Stand behind the deweves. am the wemhg class needs apapa! :71 «vs own. onw «he secwal 1

papevs 1o\d me (mm about our sIrug—gles. Now, hopemuy even/une wan’!have m ge mmugh our Dxpenencesthemselves before me, see Ihvaughthe has m we Tury press

The eupencnce ol the strike madernmrants aha sociaFsxs our 0| manywmkars who had never Lhmught abompmliucs. we can't Vet she get awaywnh me sel!—L7uL The idea bemnd theunafflcial nsIAona\ slnke eommmae-ha: met during the smke has «:2 beeemmued in peatxflnle. nesphe Ihesmcallsd uhhy, Ks disgusting 10 usthat me Numxm 1 Scunlhorpe andNumber 1: Rutherhzm works have so’cepled wemhgxows orders, whichmam (om! clasure wf our worksGAtfim1e,Thr-s weesoh a\sL7 has to be buman. o

page 22

Learning fromCorbyby Charlie Keeny (ISTC.curvy)

we ar Corby have already exoenencedthe srrnarran that Lnanwem and PanTaihm will find mernsemes In vervsnnmy — me lass ol xnrennaed and memeans 0! sunanmng nur varnnres. wenow lace lhe degla g, dshumaing acre queue, wnereunesame Deumewhn mrew us am of work Wm nowderide us as sernungerson me state.

\n the two or so years max wewaned for the sack, our amerans I:un—slandy ve\avI)d me message fromnranagemenr ‘Don’! pre§imany be1—

rer candmnns or wages now, or r:means neyrraele closure. Help us nvwandwe wru beame Io prevemclosure‘.

so lor a long rune we did jnm the!we allowed eus In nur conaitrors anddidn't pass: any claims at aH car ameanrngmr increase in wages weallowed members to leave and not bereplaced, even though rnany of usknew ma: manning Ieveb were anreanyat a cmrael poinr, Production reanruswere surpasssd In the franlxc attemptrn ‘becama a vrame prawosxtiun’ mswas a}! we ever heard far we years:we ean'r afinrd ta pay You more, butbecome a vnable Dmfllmnlon and youcan keep yaurjubs'.

wen, at vhe and or me two yearsmey told us: ’Too bad, you dldvfxworkhavd enough’. They pvsenled us wrrn

four year old mind some nave seenrnreugn.

Ecnnomrsee from werwrek Unrvev—

sltvtold us that the Ermsh Steel Cov—

pnmnansfigures were nonsense. Cor—

by could pvoauee srnn more cheapwman bringing rr In, wrm unlya mamveslmem in new pkam, much smallerman we amount they intended to buyour jabs wnn we rrien In make meCorporation see mas. rr was al thispclnl Lhal rr rnauy dawned on us —

Lhsy arnnwwunue know, thsfli neyerwamen Io knuw, me more quemoruranmy nan been a grganrie hoax ex

our expense. The BSC's nrans hadnever changed, we had been fed thisthread of nnpe rn a cruel enernp: rekeep us an . unrzr they were ready togive us me chav

lfImssm.mdshmi' nitshould was

me same argunyeru me as: are usingnyerme nanenal wage clam: — ’Don’Iask for more‘, ‘Work hardorfor ress orme dusure WM come nuraker andnaraer

Don’! «an «or rr, mothers andssters, as we did at Corby, uecausaunhzsi You I-gm agarnsr rr may willdose ynu anyway Forget about themnsram xnreers of cioswe, fignr 10v a

deoenr wage and carry on roe ngnragainst closures. rr you dam’: non:from me yery start, your soon rrnorhal me erosures demanded ore Dver—

gvowlng end rne Iimefahhes fur snuedown eyen snoner

‘(s rrnoerorrue mar rne rionr vor

wages and mo mom for jobs are mmo" ed. If you mlnkmat me ESC's orernises or more jobs ro venlace me cursam genuine, men take a rook at mefacts. sscs yoo lmdmg seryrce has(mmd 5,000 jobs in six yous. we need5,300 21 Corby alone, leaving asiuelheother 46,000 mdundancia asc hasanrmunned

What we can reu the oromers andsrsrers at Pen Ta\bo1 and Llanwem ismar your future Is rn your nanos, norme sscs. They dornoore about yourmime or «no future of your onixoren.Theyswmplywanlturidvfyauirvamn—sane onan ro oornpwywilhlhe oornrnonMarker and if rney dedrnare whukeornrnunnres, whme rogrons, roo oad.

Don't let Iham tell you that iheycan’! go on suooosrno 5122:‘ N agreater extent Ihan ornor Europeancounmes. They don't, rne raors provethat our sreen is law subsidised rnana\mL7s( an m Eurooe. Lm srubs'd's2dmen Fiance, for msmnoe, where roeSteelworkers ar Lonowy hava wonrnerr name for survival and naye sueceeded in onnorno rnassrye Investmentthat wru oroyide mom yoos, nal Vess

They nnye won a name agerrm nusmar put lunauc eoonornro ooueies firs:and neopse second

rrrerr lesson rs one we can aH

oonenrrrorn onxy re you are oreoaredrononrand go on ngnnno do you havea chance ol keeorno your ;oos and meJabs or your children o

page 23

The war is not overby Roger Tovey INUE, Llanwernstrike cummittze)

THE rnornenrous 13 week strugghe is

now or resr — our 1! me oarde rs oyer,Lhe war ‘rs nor. one who ?gn0res thelessons onne Dasl rs doorned ro reliveix. Yau, rne Dmkels, and net rose. vodwon new cunfidence w your own ary, new energy, and ronacrry. Yhvsnewlound defiant unny must neyer agamoo suoncoed on rne ahar ol drwsryeVezdenshlp — it has arreody cast roornuen.

Ler os oo lorward wrro new con—

fidenee In our mrure. Navaragain weaye

union oosmss ro me oureoueraxs, uuruse your branches and ladges as yourDlafiorm,

Four hundred uanwerns1ee\workevs lrom aH ore drrrorenrunrons rner the day aner roe serne.mam was zccténted by me naIiona\negoliafing oodres roey vuled in uppose lheioh cuts, wrd. rndusrnax action‘rt necessary. Now is me arrno in way

ouans for this «om, making Mnks wrrnmose who MU be nn by me ours andwhose sorsoariuy can newo us sucoeed— rne nuners, the doekers, vaflwayworkers. sreezworkers srrouxd oar—

tufivale in rnis camuaign and rake itsnlans oaek ro rrade umun branches.we can snow again the sirengm andunny we round on me orokor hnes —our rnrs urne (or me most impomamnon: of aH, the detenoe 0| our ,oosand013349 0! our enudren. u

page 24

Organising thestruggleby Brian Molyneuxusrc,s. varksmre div ianalscrikeeamnmse)

T0 understand me uulcome o: me‘week Steelworkers’ sinks, and parnemany haw n was fuugm byvansmre sxeemmkeys, It's necmarv[5 go back1Emcnthsh21ovexhasmke.Thena gmupo1s1ee\wnrkersse1uutlnwin nmve democvacy m are me[aruee4uniun, ma Wu and Steel Trades Corrfederamn nsrc) A number ofrnaexngs were organised wnhnnmanvs whu shared this concern lotdemacracy and a pampmet eaueoSteelworker and Refo/mwas pubMsh—ad. we made contacts wnn ethersneemmxers, but mamly what weweamea was now badly argamsan meumon would ba .n snuggle, and hownoariy represented our mleresu wereby «au—ume offi<:La\s, and some vay of—

ficna\ssOf aomsa, we mam know man

there wouva oa a nauona< stvike. amwe knew we would be in strugglesame Lima in the fu1uve,even n It wasonlyamn: works invalvmgzfewmou-sand weenie. Steeiworxers have beeninvowed .n many zecax struggles m mepast, and (he hrs! thing mm berzamesclsdv in any msome 4s just new 'n—

campelenl fuu-firne officials are. Sofrom u1rs\uca\experver-ce,wewarnedto look mane weaknessm ma union axme nanena: Vavel — me umcn’s Ex-

ecwve Ccurwl and me syslem vffuH—lime olficIa\s employee uv me union

During mesa eady meelings, wewen: preparing for a snuggxe on mewas issue. We had aH sons oa .nvonna—mm mm vndlczled ins would be meissue, even before me Brifish SteelCcrporaxinn mrled In close down mesnonon works. A group of us evenwent down In Bdswn and vied to dowhat was poszme mane. Buuhe rsrcoffiv:Ia\ wash’! max mlevesvzd

we were ,usz geru'ng mvolved mwe Bilston Issue when «he Corbyclosure was announced. And so wewem dawn to Corby and made somelinks wilh workers mere. But an messareas had me same pmmem. meywere velying on a mean leadershmwhen had na stnmach far me fight. II

was more mluesled m gaining seN—

asleem «em xhe suuagse man .nreaavng me rank and we m a ngm tokeep jobs All this time we mm In linkup with peopre reafly Interested mfighling lot [abs Vn ma wsvc Ihen: sno way of makng cunucls In meumon, so ans was diflicult. we haveonly Iusl seamed to held uruun con’fevences in ‘the FSTCI And may aremainly attended by a\fl—Iime branchsecmaneo

Dunng mesa vs rnerrrm, our srnaugroup rner weekly, Tn\/Lflvlng mamlyunidn UHICTSIS ham sourn verksrnre.we were concerned wnn hcrw to gelcurmembershvpbehmd us Ar branchrneeungs, rnare were argumerusabeurclosures we suggasled rnar the mamshomd bbrne our in suapon er arbadnBut «be Slocksbndge works aerdauymink a lavge pan of BIlst0n's mders, sarr was even more drmeuur. And ascaulse rnanagarrrenrsueued me conhrsun by avguing matcapiral mveslmantwas vvfil rb rna me 01 rbe yauey, burwTIhcu1 Bi|sIDn'S erder, rnere was nbDU NW of Investment. That had Inbe counlered, and we had re expbrnmar snsnbn wumd be Istflzled warnbdrsuppan

we stanad rb brbaden em manreenngs, by gemng erans mvoh/ed.crans rs very swung rn Yorkshve, andnrgmy orgamsed. we caued a meeungwan Bernard cennduy, the cnairpenson cf rne South Vorksfwe Craflscbrnnmee, and eeyemx drner erarrcanrvenurs m we area. A lrgm onclosures was near, and we needed realqamse sametmng amund me announoemems ssc wotfld no adunrsoon be making But with rne aw(Fcumss enmunleved m rnbbw sing mernernbersnrp in defence af jobs, webegan re iaev mar rne wage issue wasone way we couki make our membersconsmous that there were arner cigrnswe needed rb win

That was wnen we lormmalsd rnedemand for 20 per cent. and aw weneed toHnk\'1 re jobs we didn't wantany srrings we Starlzd re nut rescuelions mreugn ‘aim committees — rnra

was easy because our gvoup ‘rnyeweaomy semar jomt eernrninee offidzlsMany eornrnirrees supparled me 20

page 25per canr demand vmll beware Lhe nanImnal smke was an rne cards. wemade rx dear the! we wanlad asubsmnum incvsase rn nne with mecan bc In/mg. Au rnese resolulmnswere adopted at me baginrmg biNovember.

A1 rne urne me we ner earn wageufler vrbrn as: appealed, meStocksbndge xtzelworkers werea\rea0"/ irryeuuea m mne.1had beensuspended by nranagernenr, accusedof auendmg a rneenngs ar rne Fu||sr—

rbn Arms pub, with orner senior umonameralsxn rne wision In my defense,members wenr on mike starting 5December — four weeks bevdre thenanana: slrike dare.

A «unrrerarea of erganrsanen pnbrlo rne smke rnyovyed rne methng DYL7—

eess. \r was clean managamenlmgamsedms pmcsss on an area basisnbr Ieeauy. we mean! that re bnemelnng snap wenr an dispura, mesnms cf rne mnerplan;was mcrearsed

so that sreel woduclion was nut af~

feared. In rspdnse, vhe branenes ofrnemng snep rnernbers gal an agreesrnanr mar wnile one shop was Ind bum, the resr weuldrmneraase rneshift Levels of hanme any brner ovdels.AH rne mekmg shoes sraned re mustrnenumy, This was very srenaieanr in

rerrns be suengrn. N0 branches hadever gm mgemer befcm, an any kindof me.By crrrisrrnas, n was Near a na-dunzl slnke wnuld be saved rnerewere carusidemlfle sreel steersbecause eyeryene had been wurmngoyernrne A srnau greuv at us nrer Ivenranuaba praranng pmnts, bul wedidn‘( begun to look beybnd bur awnregion, emu. av Sheflnem Exoem ra

paga 25me ducks on our ooesr: . we evenrrreiry oerrre up wim the idea or e cs’

szenei oornrrrinee, med on every5

nroorrrrnirree in me eree some vf rrrernwere e oar underthe ISTC oefieiaieomewing, bunhn eeye we may e oeneinorrieiei srerus. we were yery oonseiouermlmgnroe fast, too soon Evenluellyrrrese oeooie were won re e more mifi»renr approach to winning rire mike.

Atstockshridge, i asked (012 rnessrrreerrrrg Driur re use neirdey breakupto prepare for me srrike Tire f'uHAfmeomieieis were irrrrowed at rrrer slag:Bu! all aney had rneneged ro do wesnrre e pub in each ereeiorrwo rreors edey ro serve as e strike needoueners.This was neoeix, as we needed aheeequerrers irerrr which we couldorgzrise eerioueiy — where neooiecoma corne ior rnrerrnerinn or forsociai security advice. we iorrne anoie, nerdy shuvdown sneo. No |STCorerron has re own money, om when i

look oriree, I orgerrrsee rerries so wehad some resonrees.we eiso eoirecredrneney rnrorren my disprrre ee wen, sowe were able In rem the snap and in—

sun e onone.

Far tha_ 'rsr two weeie M thestrike, we coneerrrrereo on argarusmgeyererns or evety aspect oi rne smku. Amass rneerine was seized, and rnoreand more peooie rrrrnee up ior picketorny. we tank eyeryones narnee endaddI§ses. The nickeung was rrigniyafficiem. Evnry picket wes given anumber, rrsenreorre rang up nrrind rrrelucalicn or e picket, weoniy rieededmlook down a irsr. seen nickel — endmore were avur 2,500 whose eedonswe were cmzvdinaling — ned rnerrawn file. Each nnre rney wererererrnened e eonrrnem was rnede on

mer rile: wrrerirer rne rnernoer weekeen, wrrerrrer rr wes e wesre oi rzrnesskmg rnern, end so en The: wrry,whoever wes oreensing rrre pickerreree eeuid be esyenoroeieeiiypieaanad, end we Gian’! weeaereeourm en useless orrene calls.

The ergenreerien er Smuksbridgewes e oin ieo. Eventually, one personwas pm rn energe oi eeeir eree eeueerims rn London, end in orner erees;irnerroesirerrr eoroed-, rreneporr — in-oiudine rne seven buses and 52-smercoach ere: we hired deiiy; oiekerirrg;ouhikfilv er nriming. But one driiiorrirywrerner everybody, including the ieoeileadem, mnred re ea on on overthecerrmrv, or Io Genneny, or wnereyer.we needed rne ieeders oeoeuee rireyhad iniieenee wirir omerwerrrers. andme eoiirieei knavviadge. Fm rnoeenrernoers with less experrenee, iryrnepickeu gave rrrern e errenee ro rneexorners and to begin ro sneak exrrreerines. That way, me umun gainednew rnrirrems, me nreney wes

A:n}—

ieered, end me ieeoers mainmined asame base for the upermlon.

we didn'r have rne eeii svuclmefor pickelsmax norrrernerrr errooree, irdidn't eerer ro our rreees ene ourrrrerrree nee many advarilager ir weseaerer re get ergenreed quicklyr wewere rnere mobile in reeoning eioxersby enene end directing Ihem ro e een»Iml ooinr er a gryen nrne. in the oeiisrruerrrre, uflsrl oeonie weve IiesuamIo leave rneir own eeren where (heyned been oieireone ier eerrre rrrneTney also conlinued to mix eniy wrrirpeeore rrorrr men Imamzhes. wewenred our members to mix withothers, ro eer rrniry on me works whenwe returned. Looking back, one irn—

i~Ja-U

aw-v

rrj

nmvsmenzwecould have made was reIry re ereneen rne nnrneers who reekmsponsiblllly ver various (hlngs duringrne slnke By rne sixth week we wasposible because rne rank ane file naeSIX weeks ufnlckeungexperience. lheywere highly mublle and lar less reluee

Ian! Lhan er rne Deglnmng

When we srnke srerree, me 1STC

at Smcblavldge mcunsfituled rrs mmlcornrninee rnre a srrike committee.crans had melrown srnke eernrnnree,as are me Tmnspon werkers Union.Eur lers of werkers lrern mese unionswere eernlne lo rne VSTC sneubecause we nae Iesmucas, soclalse::u1lIylMorma(lcn,and we were in esupevlor pesieen becauseof eurmnesAlthough rney were reluctant. me eonsllenulx lrern me crahs eventually jolrvee our eernrnlrree.

organrsrng at a regional levelFrom the filvsl day of the dlspule,

we farmed a cummrllee at a divlslcnullevel. It had 12 paoyls on ll. We lookseme glsal decisluns! Thele were peeple an the comminee who refused Inbow down to Slrs ~ who pickeledHadflelds private steel Wm and othersmckholders’ films almough iu|H'lme

page 27emeels were lelllne rnern ner Inpickel Fur rne nrsr nrne In men llves,peeele wererl'l waking nelree el wnarSivs was saylng Wley ]uS‘K had ene \n—

sic re wlrl the erseuxeThis eernrnmee nee members el

lne Executive Colmcll lac» on n, aswell es rnerneers er rhe cenlralNegerlanne cemrnlrree lCNCl we en-coumged rnese rnerneers to eer nu! reelner areas, but rrlee re ensule whenrney earne back Lhey would be reseenslsble m us.

we contacted Arreur Scarglll, thevermire mirlevs' leader, eerere mestrike svarled and asked ler a meeungeerween hlm and me divlslcnzl srnkeeernrnlnee. All me EC ane CNCrnemeers weer re meet nrrn. seerglllshowed as maps from me 1972 and1974 miners’ smrgeles, ane explalnedhow important Eas\ Angus was- howto log lnfuymalion curmrlg ln and ear,new ceser upacenxral leg Imoksolhatllnks wrrn emer areas eeule be rnarn—

ralnee wnnem overlap‘, howtc elan forzccclrnmn-1aIion,znd so an. Tne Cam—

rnlnee rnarneers were very prassgu.They came on! of me meefing whistl-ing. Teen mu press gal bald M n andwanm a rerun ius1 fur the cameras.They laved ill ol course, Scargillcouldn't tall are mlllums rnuen, herthis rneezlng was one el ma factors inwinnrng the weele e1 ma mmmlnee,ac rnarneers and all, re an erleenvepickeling pcllcy wmch rnarkee offSwm Vnrlullivalrarn men en. The acmsmburselse went re Fnnbe I0 speakwlm ma docket!‘ They couldn't geteve! rne selrearny they mer Tneywok: re nms rneellngs lrka at Folds inDzgenham, and may ereuely broughteaek ma munay Ihey eelleereel

page 23

av mo seaono week otina eisniie,we me a iairiv soiio independenxbodyaia reozonai ievai,we were men iuiirnosiis wnai wt warned, A iaw weelsieiar, wiien siis rnaoe one oi hisiainoiis rnmiies, sirnoeis weie iaaiivangry. onmevervsainaday, via F§uediwo press F\xh3menB' one saying aiineei srioiiid be siapoeo; anoiriar maxma aepuie was ||.ls1 wiin asc, nu: maonvaieeeeior. ii was ioiaiiv ooniiisirig,and inn: was wnen cries ior weiesiqnazion canie. irie lhing wniciirrnaiiv I ii was wnen ne gave apiekezing eiapensaiion V0 Hadfieids,me orivaiia sneei iinn.

The oaii ioi 117$ iesignaiion rneinrougn irie oivisionaieoinrnineein iiiesixm week of ciie diSDu(E No one evenspoke againsi il we inoiigni thatoerriaosiri other aieasirie rank and msmight aiso have a siiniiar view of siis,ano ai ieaei inev woiiio get iiieir e«—

ecinnie to oa oriiicai of him. And i:worked! Aeooroingio Eiieoiiiive i:oiin—Cll reoons, sirs inoia oriassapoiogiseofur giving ine Hadfields oiscensaiion.

wa inougrii ii was niponani totake iriis up because i: wouii-i raoisiarin people‘s niiries in inner areas —mere was an eiiariiaiive maiwe na ii—

mirtnd. This oion'i exist neiioaaiiv, oiooiirsa, DUI ai ieasi ii gave a vision oinow oeooie eouia iae in a oosiiion Ngovern lhemselves. siis' eieoioimvwas at siake — members wereprepared io neeriiieai,and sayltopan»iy. iiiis gave oiners rnoia ooiirage inon so, as weii.

This series oi oiiimera by siisiieii:-ed us gain oreomiiiiy Vtailawed US

to lake me iniiraiiveiimariis Hzdfievi-lsano me priiraie saclor, and io dispalchiivirig nioiiee towards siocxnoioersand oiiier key iargeis. we sioooeo aii

iiisoensacions in ine firs! wee«, anoaocpioa a ooiiiev ei wiiiiarawing saieiv.

ii was very iinoonani for criernorsia VI me 5!siiue was eoiiiiniiaiiv moving iorwaioTh‘: wee wiw Haaiieios was so can»irai. ii became a srrnooi noi oniybecause of the roie oi siis, but aisobecause iiie naiioniii press ioeiisseeon ii, and because the factory unionieaoersiiio playfidsiichascabbirlg roie.we had in rnino a Salday nickel aiiiaoiieios, eecause we reecgnioeahow iinoorum Salliey was in winningworking alas soiioariiv farfha rnineisin 1972.

Afler iimiieios nau gone back onSiid disperualmn, we took niaiiais in

our own hands. we piizoiiime eaiiiora mass oiuiei on 14 February. The insilalvement of me miners and KM mmmobilisation nf ine sieei wurkels ciosed oawn i-iaaiieios aiior a iang bardewiiri me ooiic This oecaineknawnasina si Vaiemine‘s Dav Massacre. amme victory was imlonuriarelv allmviedio siro. me iaiiiire io eiose Sheem&and siis' iaiiiire io give an answer iome eiosiire Ihreat ov me iiaoiieiasmanagement, niaain Hadfields relum—ad io woxk I0 oays iaiei

‘kirkrrie cemrai ceoroinaiino CON!’

nnmee was anoiiier iaoionai body [M1was sei up on a cru§—umori Basis. iinan limitations, ii was ioo carremoved (mm ine iank one file io geime mass siipoon ii neeoeo. Georgecaooni, a miiiirrie omciai ior maEngineers’ union in voiisriiie ano B

leading carnniunisi Pariy member '

in. area, eanie ro ilie slrike olfieasnear rlie oeginrilno oirrie slnke ’I hearyou are pickatlng shardlaws; he said‘My lads are horlournbourld nor on

cm$ vlcket lines, but you are voroindrlieni ro dd ir.' we explained ilraiwriaeii was true plbkels were on the oaies,no one was ioroine anyone in emsmain. ‘Eu! sire says yuu are only Sup-pnsed lo oielrei BSC we replied liowfulile rliar oameiilar policy was.

in fact pickelirlg was already begin»ning lo be efleclive in a niiriieer orengineering olarria. or course thls wasoeoausewe ware snooping eiiarylnlneso Cnbcrn anndunoed that if wewarmed Iv plcket, we should adopr aeornnion policy. many 01 me s1rlkerswho had past exoerianoe wim caoornirsLs1ad no was only iryina io eoniroline siiiiailen ~ lie had only a fewriienioers ln sleel, rlie rnaionry inengineering. He was oeieririiied ioprolein (he maioriry, nol the rniriornyBut rne pruposal seerned reasonable.so we agreed iliar rlu raw sreel wouldoe allowed io rnoiie Tliis, we wereasuied, would lead ro rapid lay-vfls.

we ser up llie cenual Co—

ordinairng cornrniriee wiili twodelegates from each onion and riieievery morning al 7,342 in me AUEWHouse. No lullxlmers, lncllldingcaooin, were allowed in rlie meetingsBur ii iusi riaooanad oiai Georgecaoorn or Albert Knionr, anodierEnglneellrlg Urlmn onieer and corninunisr Party rnerrioer. would dnfl inand orler us cuflee. Then iliey wouldslart lo raise lime rnanars. caoornwould say, loli. l nave a lad our nerawlio iilsl wanrs a dispersalion. He'seor a pmblem wiin your plckevs andliaa re eerrnlngs mvvlnga1he'||hzv9aieyolueon en liis hands. can yoil lielo

P095 23him oiirr Tliis eorr af inine vles flap»pariiiig all me iinre.

As me want on, ii oeearrie elearIflat inls nommmee was nor much uselr ms evidemiliar caoorn and l<nlgnrwere nor orelxared re ask rneirmambels ro acmally eorrie am in sup—oorx. Aner Hbfiul six weeks, ndlriineiosilmd lroni our ‘cflmmorlaereanieiii' we liadn'i reached anagreement in mar people could workloreyerl so eventually we eecided rliewnole rning was a non»sv.amar.

The eonoeor oeliind rlils eoinrniereewasolray, we did minkllsnduldbeken! (lokmg over wirli a small amounlof iunds so that after the strike wecould kcep a voiiiiii in whlch all ilriionswuld inaei. Norliing has liaopenedyei, ourweslidold slillliy eogeisiioriameeting nff me ioilrid.

nielsrc oi onalcdnirninaewasrneeiino A one parallel — all lirne.This body was guardlng us aurorioriiyand given that me canlral cooidillzling cdininlraee was moredrleesdevuiiei, an Uverali nod, was siill need-ed. we liad ouili up rlie trust 01 memembership, and riad adoared whatwe ccrsldeled were lhe rigrn pol mes.we didn't wanr (0 expend all

respect on ilre Cnsurdlnaling cdniiniielee. Sn we decided in expand lnelSTC aornmrriee ro involve oirierunions.

This decision oaye ilie rniliranlsconiml oyer die sornrnlneewnieri wasreinroroed ay me election oi rniliranislike Bernard Connolly and FrankBeaver liorn crnfis. slrs warned looain comml oi ilie body. He wanledl<eii:i Jones. ma lSTC iii mine officialfor South Volkshire vegiml, lo move 1D

London The lailed su an edict earne

page 30hum (he exsamiye Counc11(hefaI[ow-Tug week sraong max aH fu1|—Im1e of—

liuzls shumd be nruy Involved rn mesmke. ms was six wesks aftev it hadoagurr, so Ihis was fins. we hadarraaay upuseé ms amcsaxs rn home!use msmberslup su nomrng came outor me edvm but a an cf rnna n.

The Pressons promarn we had ro deal wnh

wns1ant\y was ms oness. They weraerawurng an aver ma place like ans.may clogged everylhing up. we tooka firm decvslon ms: rxrune om ourpre§ officer could walk to ma press.Ttus caused some pmblervs but wasma oniy way m ooav with mern. onslesson we learned was how rrnprdiy thepres cuuld a?Ier]Isccve4aga.Umil\1’\ethud week. may wete raxaoyary sym-patheli when my reanrsso weweren't going to be gooo, man ms at—

mudeaHhe):n3ssdIanged.ltwasura-hably not because may get someorders vronr me (up: pemaas ]uur—nansxa inn ream ro what may minkpublic opinion is. There was a van»spiracyofsr7enDebvmecapIta1IsInrB$rowaros lbs end. And me anilude ofmaslrikerschanged Armebegunning.Ihe eoyeraga on le\av'L¢innsaoouragsomore male In p|::keL By ms andpurruahsts wsra being onyaeany a-tacked — incmding the pom Iechm»ciars wm Just hafd me camera. ArHaonsuds, me ores was stuned.

we became involved in organisingraures fmm Ihe mm week, fim on aShefficid-wide vayer, Ihnn at each cfihe ovanrs ms kept mnrale up raauyrngn. The nyrng makes were msevlingpen e from miner areas, vausngpcli s ro members af reyosunonarygroups man for me firs! rims, and

maaong people who worm suppolfthem for no rewaro. AH mes aeysuooedsuikels‘ oomrcan mnscinuxnass Thebaagaaxpzosron wasanmherexarnora.ws sranao off with as «aw badges ammay were so ooomar um ayanruanypeopde ware nayrng moar own nraae.and may became heated hke menus:

The Nationai Strike Committeeezgm weeks mm the oisnure, the

crafls med ta oandude a seoaraos 5491-

Vietnam. We decided lhis had In beflopped Bernard connouy Wen:arauao me oounoy to squash 2:. wsdecided wrrua he was lravefling, weshould make comzcvs wrm alher Demale. AI me same Iima ma lmemaiionarMarxxst Gmuv was nusazng for somegeneral cnmmifiee In ovvganise arenxxmzcxs around ms aounrry mm somesmrsmra. so once we had put a myfaith: crahs meal, and had made manyoonsaars, me call was bunched ior anaxinnau unomaal strike eornnriuaa.Ev mo: uma. I

was exeauso lo the Car»tml Negmialing comrnmaa and hadmade even more aomaas.

The rdaa cf mganising somethingas an anernaswa tn Sxrs naoonaw wasmat. The posslbflmesweve shown wimma way ws nad closed oown Fords atDugenham and with some or the woohis Bu: me suixe con-rmmea didn'tfinallysucceed. wa naadao snmevhxngIn unriv us rn ona fell swoop — rnayosa nalional rally. We shuuld nave atlsasl orgamsed a natiunzl nuusain. bmmore just didn‘( seem to be Iherasourcss.

The SettlementII was a dificull declsmn In decide

xo reoummend a romrn to wurk In

vurksmre. we had e nearedea.-hebut decided mar n wes betlar In byme urulv we had acruzved. xi are rrenenal smka curmmmee nerd itla-1. -rendsenw cumd neye sraved out. arewith only dne strong lmzl orgarereman, we wdurd have been emared. ‘reday «here rs new e was have atrnimanrs In sisal. So naw we have n:organise rne suuerures dursrde nf finvfflmxl ones.

The wzVk-out on me second davbank 10 work showed mar aciion weseossrme wrrnour me goihesd by srre.The famths walk-out was a display ofsulidavilv m/EV vredrnznrran is also im—

pnnant. ms sdrr drseppdrr nad navelhapnansd balm: and snow: what ispnmwble.

Vn rnesr piams we now have jnintsnap sreweres eornrnmees All meumans neye been (aid rnarsnen bodiesare unconsnrersoner and cenem peuprewould like rd see men. deerrcyed lmr

omens reasons, we now have aherilage d1 drgervsrne rne rank and me.Jdinr shop Shewavds eerrrrrrarrees wererun ernrcnnesdraarm nu wromecaver snmecne's need. They are areepeneem whanhe rrrerrrbersnin seess neesary, and rs asking for.

we warn re gel sreerworkere onDlher picket lines. find to supportdernnnsrrauonshke me 27 Ann: rrurcheeernsr rne speeiax Pam)! Green in

London. We want no rnernrein thernalireney which exlnzd during ansmke.

II wru b: drrncun. we have In work«er a srronger mganisalion er me rankand me level, burwe nwsmrbe afraiddo

.Fomawing rne s1rikew2 nave salvo

a rain: snap suewerds eemrnizree in

every p\an1'\n sdrrrn Vmkshvra, ems?‘

pays 31re Rmhemam.

Evuv acdnn we lake, we wru

mine on are ranks. Every rirne we-e-eedre speenorivwesernpxrnysearn aura sreetworxecs ‘rrr Eumve, aswe ere doing Mm weer Germanvnflus. mm M) WM! axnlain in earnew t-umin whee we have done.

In flax may we will be aeeeunreenefor an idiom.

we wern a mess shop uewardsrrreerinq zvuv mree rnamhs. me wrn

ececr offiaiis lot rne iuinl snapslewlrds eornrnzree. we have aneadyagreed on me renresenrarien for dil—

aerenr unions.A zmeereng Inna shop stewards

meeling wru be me ccnuulling body,and the join! snde aewerde will mealeecn week Each depenrnerrr wrudedde wnar n Wants 10 out in menewsneer.

we have In cansida a neuonrrlwrrrrrmee. and eyen lntevnmianalhnks. This rvII§M seem to be pic~>in—1h£L

sky, but we already have West senman. French and aaeque rrnks. AIserne stag: we need In rake onErussek, sawehave ideas for an inter-national nuuerin.

The umon I: gene to change. Thelirsr srep nae to be a campaign re 981am srrs re reecrnd rne ernoeuarsen dvwas years rsrc confelenne. We havealreedy saarred pasing reeolundns tomac emex.

At this time mpeeauy we need aeorrceeenee m rake sreek of the 55H-

out, messy»/rrere me union rs al, andnreperu pllrs forme nexi eaevee. -Nd: All are mntn’Botium in msnary-Is by neenvrumers ere rrrade rnmar nusona wecity.

READ soclALlsr CHAILENGE,weekly paper oi tiie Interna-tional Marxist Gruup.soi:iALisr CHA LENGE canCemralls on wlitical eXD|ana-

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Contents:Introduction by Dodleweppier, ..2

Lessons of the steel strike byErian Grogan...4

A strike against the Tories byBernard Cannnl|y...l0

Stee|wnmen's power by CeliaPugh... 17

We must change our unionby Ray Davies .19

The Warrington BrickBrigade by coiin Herd...20

Learninglrom corby byCharlie Keeny ...22

The war is not over by RogerTovey...23

or nisingtiie struggle byBrian Moiyneiix...24

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rypsetana ncsisrlen by n mu. up ‘m)\ :29 upper stieet, Human NIFrlmed pr spioei wen oniseiiruy. 9 Rosemnrlt Ra , uniurin Nwa