The Decades
1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980News From 1980 to 1989
The 1980's were incredibly significant in the history of the miners. The decade began with a short standoff between the NUM and Thatcher’s fledgling government. Thatcher had been secretly preparing to take on the miners, but in 1981 she was not ready. The result of this was a climb down for Thatcher all be it to get more prepared. Arthur Scargill replaced Joe Gormley as president in 1982 and the rank and file had a leader willing to back them.
Over the next couple of years both parties were heading down a road that could only result in a fight to preserve jobs and keep the pits open. There was also trouble brewing over the appointment of Ian McGregor who butchered the Steel Industry. The Union also had difficulty negotiating pay rises because the NCB wanted to force the NUM into accepting pit closures without compromise as part of any deal.
By the end of 1983 both sides knew that things could not go on as they were. The NUM had an overtime ban in place, and although it reduced output it would not be enough on its own. Local Strikes were happening in most areas, and lots of pits were down to 3 or 4 days a week due to the NCB using Monday as a catch-up day to get statutory examinations completed. All this meant that tensions were very strained, and the powder keg was about to blow.
The real fight began when the NCB announced that Cortonwood was to close, the men walked out and appealed for backing from other pits. The strike spread quickly and the men from Yorkshire were soon joined by pits in Kent, Wales, Scotland, and the Northeast. A few pits had already been out when the announcement came that Cortonwood was to close, so in those early days there was a feeling of relief because we had to do something.
So here we are a fight we can’t walk away from, at the wrong time of year against a Tory Leader prepared to bankrupt the country to defeat us.