North Staffs
Socialist Organiser1984 1984-04-12Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 6 →
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ONE of the main factors which brought miners in North Staftordshire out on strike was the activity of the police on the picket lines. The miners had voted in the area ballot not to strike but also agreed not to cross picket lines.
When Welsh and local miners organised pickets at the five pits in the district. they were met by masses of heavy-handed police.
Such was the reaction that within a week nieetings at all five pits had voted by massive majorities to come out. All the pits in the area are now tied up, and miners are concentrating on picketing wharts and Meaford Power Station.
A small number of Power Group members are still turning up for work. The NUM Power Group is based in Stoke, and its extreme right wing leader Roy Ottey was the leading light in organising the meeting of NEC scabs for a ballot.
The day after Ottey's secret meeting with the other scabs, about 100 local miners. including some Power Group members, turned up to his Hanley office chanting for him to resign.
Local Socialist Organiser supporters have been making a film about the strike and producing a weekly "Collier' bulletin. Nearly 750 copies a week have been snatched up on picket lines.
We have also been active in the Labour Party trying to win support with some success, although the soft lett are more concerned about the local elections.
"We have more important things to spend our time on. said one. "The miners strike just a mirage."
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