One of literatures greatest strengths is its ability to take us inside the subjective experience of history into the. Feb 02, 2004 the 1984 miners strike was a last attempt by the mining unions to stop mining closures and the loss of jobs. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. She also forced miners back to work with no pay during the miners strike of 1984 and signed a treaty about the future of hong kong with the chinese in 1984. A community fighting for jobs and survival was wholly denigrated and depicted as violent by the majority. In 1972 the miners came out on strike for higher pay, with a successful result. Mar 09, 2014 the effects of the miners strike are still felt today 30 year on.
This is one of my favourite photos from the series, as it captures the desperation of the people and the power of the police in controlling sometimes brutally the striking miners. Miners strike of 1984 inspired kit habianics book until our. The strike only began to crumble when the ncb offered miners various pay incentives to return to work before christmas. Even veteran mirror journalist geoffrey goodman, whose book the miners strike is dedicated to british miners, argued that the refusal of the leadership to hold a strike. In a book published by the national coal mining museum for england, david john douglass writes that scargills responsibility for the 1984 85 strike is often exaggerated.
Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 0 london following is a chronology of events in britains miners strike, the longest major labor dispute in the nations history. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. The 1984 85 miners strike, otherwise known simply as the miners strike, was one of the most defining moments in 20 th century british history, seeing a reverse in the strength of trade unions. The miners strike lasted a year and was one of the longest and possibly most damaging industrial disputes ever seen in britain. Lesbians and gays support the miners lgsm was an alliance of lesbians and gay men who supported national union of mineworkers during the yearlong strike of 1984 1985. People versus state by reed, david book the fast free see more like this. This page has been created to spread the word and respark the flame created by the heroic struggle of the miners in the.
Gascoyne, a forceful 59yearold exfaceworker who swears a lot, was the branch secretary of the national union of mineworkers throughout the strike of 1984 85 and until the pit closed. In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers strike of 1984 5 was the longest national strike in british history. There is a prevailing view that arthur scargill, the num national president, called the strike. The definitive account of the strikethe best book on the thatcher era. The strike by the national union of mineworkers num was led by arthur scargill, although some num members considered it to be unconstitutional and did not observe it. The unlikely story of the true heroes of the miners strike. Novels take on the 1984 miners strike wales online. The now well known dirty war fought by the thatcher government against the national union of mineworkers transformed. Loss without limit is a great read for anyone with a serious interest in the topic.
The legacy of the 1984 5 uk miners strike by dr katy shaw the uk miners strike of 1984 5 was a defining moment in the history of the united kingdom, one that not only. The 1984 85 miners strike in nottinghamshire jonathan symcox on. Thatcher debated using military in 1984 miners strike the. Apr 01, 2014 remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485. The miners strike 198485 thompsons trade union solicitors. In march 1984 more than 187,000 miners came out on strike when the national coal board. Apr 05, 2014 the conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago, is now being challenged. The strike by the national union of mineworkers began on 6th march 1984, in response to pit closures, wage restraints and heavy reductions in government subsidies.
The miners strike 1984 was one of the longest and most brutal in british labour history. For a year over 100,000 members of the national union of mineworkers, their families and supporters, in hundreds of communities, battled to prevent the decimation of the coal industry on which their livelihoods and communities depended. Updated editions were released in 1995, 2004, and 2014. In 1984 5, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlon. Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike. The effects of the miners strike are still felt today 30. A page dedicated to the memory of the kent mining communities and the 1984 85 miners strike. Booklist miners and miners strikes news from nowhere radical. By the early 1980s the collieries were losing money. John lowe, chairman of clipstone collierys strike committee, was at the forefront of the fight for jobs of the twelve months 1984 85 miners strike at a time when most nottinghamshire miners preferred to work. One miners incredible true story of deceit, betrayal and back stabbing during the miners strike of 1984. Twenty years after the miners strike of 1984 85 new class battles are today being prepared in britain.
Class against class by sean matgamna from waterstones today. Jan 11, 2009 video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. The son of a communist miner, he has kept its memory alive at the shirebrook miners welfare social club, founded in 1920. The government announced on 6 march 1984 that 20 collieries would close, meaning that many mining. The national miners strike 1984 5 involved 142,000 mineworkers and has been described as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. The strike left him as diminished as his pit, day dragging after idle day. A novel about the miners strike breathes life into the spooky events of 1985. Penrhiwceiber south wales during the miners strike 1984 1985 singing by penrhiwceiber junior school mountain ash rfc singers filmed by students. The miners strike 198485 police, protests and public. Jun 16, 2014 much of margaret thatchers new neoliberal settlement, replacing the old socialdemocratic one, survived and indeed helped to shape new labour. Aug 22, 2014 kit habianics novel is one of betrayal in a welsh village during the miners strike of 1984.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or. Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike the enemy. John lowe was at the forefront of the fight for jobs during the twelve months of the miners strike from 1984 5 as the elected chairman of clipstone collierys strike committee in the largely working county of nottinghamshire. How does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. In 19845, mining communities all over britain fought a yearlong battle against thatchers tory government. The miners strike of 1984 1985 was an attempt by miners to stop the national coal board ncb and the government of prime minister margaret thatcher shutting down collieries mines. Mar 12, 2009 books blog poetry how does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. Fighting between police and striking miners at orgreave in 1984.
Far from the miners strike representing the end of class struggle, it provides us with a wealth of lessons to prepare for the new battles which have already begun. The bbc has referred to the strike as the most bitter industrial dispute in british history. These archive images taken from the look north news reports of the time evoke a sense of. Wales and the 1984 85 miners strike by francis, hywel pap see more like this.
Cover image of book reform, revolution and direct action amongst british miners. I fought not just for my pit but for the community to mark the end of the miners strike 30 years ago we asked guardian readers to. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. During her time as prime minster, thatcher put the falkland islands under british rule, after defeated argentina. Across frontiers brings to life the fascinating story of the men and women who travelled overseas to speak to workers and raise support for the miners strike. The book also includes discussion of issues and lessons arising from the strike. David edgar looks at the literature of the dispute and explores its legacy. Books blog poetry how does literature reflect the 1984 miners strike. Untold story of international help in 198485 miners strike. The strike became a symbolic struggle, as the national union of. The conventional story of the miners strike, which began 30 years ago. Photographs from the great miners strike, 1984 85 9780951065 and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books. Sorry, the covid19 crisis affects the availability of many books use enquiry links by. Remembering the 30th anniversary of the miners great strike for jobs in the year of 8485.
In the book settling scores, nicholas jones, then the bbcs outstanding labour. They did so in the midst of the 1984 miners strikethe most bitter and divisive dispute for more than. During the strike the miners and their families displayed. But the most considered analysis of the strikes meaning was an essay by historian raphael samuel in a ruskin college compilation the enemy within number three, subtitled pit villages and the miners strike of 19845. Feb 26, 2009 the miners strike of 19845 was one of the bitterest industrial disputes of the 20th century in the uk. Feb 04, 2014 kit habianics novel is one of betrayal in a welsh village during the miners strike of 1984. Such was the divisive nature of so much of the news reporting of the 198485 miners strike and media concentration on picket line violence that there was often little coverage of the remarkable solidarity shown by the international trade union movement. Loss without limit new edition by martin adeney, john lloyd isbn.
The book investigates the circumstances surrounding the uk miners strike 198485. Jan 08, 2015 this book manages to do what few others are able to do. Samuels argument was that, far from being a movement to overthrow the existing order. The miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action to shut down the british coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. How the miners strike of 198485 changed britain for ever. Video of the miners strike in 1984 to mark the 25th anniversary, this is some footage of the picket lines and the riots that ensued. With the publication of this book, the full irony of that accusation became.
Search the catalogue for more material about the 1984 85 miners strike, and mining unions more generally. Keith pattinson photographed the miners strike of 1984 and captured the harsh times and events that occured. Scargill marches with dinnington miners in 1984 rally. The miners strike 1984 85 miners strike 30 years on. It was also seen as a major political victory for margaret thatcher and the conservative party. Other records are held at the modern records centre, university of warwick. The secret war against the miners is a book by british journalist and writer seumas milne, first published in 1994. Cavalry charge by police on horseback scatters the pickets. Pit villages and the miners strike of 1984 85 history workshop series 1st edition. As she saw it, the defeat of the miners strike of 198485 cut the brake on the application of largely unrestrained market forces, not only in energy but in the wider ordering of society. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
Miners strike of 1984 inspired kit habianics book until our blood is dry kit habianics novel is one of betrayal in a welsh village during the miners strike of 1984. The uk miners strike of 198485 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry. International support for the miners strike 1984 85. Miners strike of 1984 inspired kit habianics book until our blood is. They did so in the midst of the 1984 miners strike the most bitter and. At the university of east anglia recently rob sewell of the socialist appeal gave a talk on the miners strike in britain 19834. The story of the miners strike, 1984 5 1st by ian macgregor, rodney tyler isbn. Miners strike at orgreave, 1984 film 37350 youtube. Their fight remains a source of inspiration for the labour movement, and for those who want a democratic socialist world free of exploitation and oppression. Jan 04, 2014 london as striking miners challenged her grip on power in 1984, prime minister margaret thatcher secretly considered calling out the british military to transport vital supplies of food and. The story of the miners strike, 19845 as want to read. In the postwar period the decline of british imperialism had occured. The uk miners strike of 1984 85 was a major industrial action affecting the british coal industry.
A picket throws himself at a police van in an attempt to stop the bus carrying working miners, from getting into ellington colliery november 1985 17 of 24. Pages in category uk miners strike 1984 85 the following 18 pages are in this category, out of 18 total. The miners strike of 1984 1985 was one of the most bitter industrial disputes britain has ever seen. Miners strike of 1984 inspired kit habianics book until. It was a defining moment in british industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the british trade union movement. Jan 11, 2007 the miners strike of 1984 85 will always be remembered in british working class history as the most significant turning point in the power relationship between the working class organisations of the trade unions, and the state representing the interests of the privileged minority in the late twentieth century. It was led by arthur scargill of the national union of mineworkers num against the national coal board ncb, a government agency. A dedication to the men and women who fought not only for the right to work but in the pursuit of a. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The strike was a culmination of the inevitable build up of tension between the ruling and working class. The story of the british miners strike of 1984 5, told in weektoweek detail, illustrated by photos from john harris and front pages from the socialist press at the time.
Kit habianics novel is one of betrayal in a welsh village during the miners strike of 1984. The book investigates the circumstances surrounding the uk miners strike 1984 85 and the involvement of intelligence services in destroying the miners and the lengths the police, intelligence. Margaret thatcher branded the leaders of the 198485 miners strike the enemy within. On 3 march 1985, the nums executive narrowly voted for a return to work. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. One miners incredible true story of deceit, betrayal and back stabbing during the miners strike of 1984 by ken ambler, simon ambler, et al. This diary, kept by the chairman of the clipstone colliery strike committee, provides an emotional daybyday account of events during the dispute that not only led to lowes arrest but would also have a profound effect on the whole nation. This books authors obviously werent going to have access to all this material, and therefore some of its points have been superceded by more modern arguments. The result was the general election of 1979 and the victory of a conservative government under britains first female prime minister, margaret thatcher. The miners strike 198485 the 1984 strike followed on from the disputes in 1972 and 1974. Rachael misstear asks the author, whose book is serialised in the western mail from february 5. The 198485 miners strike in nottinghamshire pen and sword.
The yearlong strike involved hardship and violence as pit communities from south wales to scotland fought to retain their local collieries for many the only source of employment. Uk miners strike this move request derives from a malformed one at talk. J ames clarkes sprawling debut novel, a family saga set during the miners strike of 1984 5, can be clumsy and cliched, but it is an ardent, energetic piece of work, with shades of barry. Media in category uk miners strike 1984 the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Wcml mining unions and the 198485 miners strike miners. May 09, 2010 ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers.
A page dedicated to the memory of the kent mining communities and the 198485 miners strike. The story of the miners strike, 19845 1st by ian macgregor, rodney tyler isbn. The story of the british miners strike of 19845, told in weektoweek detail, illustrated by photos from john harris and front pages from the socialist press at the time. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Timeline of uk miners strike of 198485 upi archives. Ive got a half decent book entitled across frontiers. Shirley dent on how literature reflects the 1984 miners strike. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.