THE TUC's so-called Campaign for Jobs and Recovery - formally launched at the magnificent 200,000-strong march the Sunday before last - is as bland as Norman Willis' taste in ties.
As you will no doubt not be aware, one day in December -probably December 9, according to a TUC press release - is to be designated 'a National Day for Recovery.
For Congress House, this means a London forum with bosses, boffins and bishops and wait for it... 'meetings at workplace level between employers and representatives of recognised unions to discuss the future of employment, the need for partnership and the case for grown in men (sic) own firm' Regional rallies You'll also get five regional rallies, a petition and a lobby of parliament. To cap the excitement, 'an edited video of Sunday's march and rally is to be produced and further consideration is being given to events to be held over the Christmas period'.
It'sdown to the rank-and-file to deliver solidarity and support for the miners. December 9 can be used as focus for action to rock the boat. It's an ideal opportunity to take up your own grievance against your own boss and flout the Tory ban on solidarity action.
Grassroots initiatives in support of the struggle against pit closures are springing up evervwhere as the miners' support groups formed in the 1984'85 Great Strike are reconstituted.
Miners must rebuild the network they established in 1984 Meetings called at short notice in towns and cities across Britain have attracted large audiences, often numbering several hundreds.
One activist from Swindon told Socialist Outlook how 20 union activists collected 2,200 signatures in support of the miners in just three hours of petitioning in the town centre one Saturday morning.
People were literally queuing up to sign it. A well-attended emergency trades council meeting subsequentiy passed a resolution calling for a 24 hour general strike.
In Hull, the first meeting of a new miners' support group, officially sponsored by the trades council, is planned for Friday 6 November, at 8.00pm in the town's Trades and Labour Club.
Meetings
In the North West, the Socialist Movement Trade Union Committee has organised meetings in Liverpool and St Helens. An official North West Regional TUC demonstration is planned for Manchester on November 17.
Lancashire NUM have called a demo in St Helens, the nearest work. The rest were told they could MAFEENATIONAL SAINST, SURES town to the threatened Parkside pit, on November 7.
In an attempt to provide some co-ordination, a National Miners' Support Network has been launched by the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, with backing from the National Union of Mineworkers and Pit Closures. A major national conference will be organised as soon as possible.
Journalists
Radical journalists are planning a regular mass circulation bulletin in the network's name. Sympathizers in the music business are examining the possibilities of a major fundraising concert, and are confident of attracting some top name rock bands.
Unfortunately, the network's early planning meetings have been dogged by sectarian headbanging from some irresponsible political tendencies. ULtimately, the project can only succeed by winning support from the mainstream labour movement as well as the far left.
National Miners' Support Network clo Jeremy Corbyn MP, 129a Seven Sisters Road, London N4. the ten Poet All be thing MIDLAND HOTO: Mark Salmon MANHOCK CHASE MINE WORKERS OUT OF DARKNESS INTO LIGHT