MINERS HAVE said yes to a 24 hour strike against Tory plans to axe 30,000 jobs in the industry as a prelude to privatisation. British Rail workers seem set to join them in what will be the most important labour movement day of action for The NUM miners' union, pit supervisors union NACODS and RMT railworkers held synchronised ballots against redundancies in their respective industries last Friday.
The NUM result - announced last weekend - paves the way for the first national coal stoppe • since the all-out strike of 1984-85. The scale of support for industrial action surpassed the hopes of most militants, who had privately been expecting a close call.
The strongest backing came from South Wales, with 87 per cent in favour. Other ares in favour were: Nottinghamshire (79 per cent), Lancashire (77), Leicestershire (75), Power Group (68), Yorkshire (66 per cent), Midlands (65), Cokemen (59) and the Northeast (50.1). Areas against were: Derbyshire (46), Scotland (36), white collar (30), North Wales (23).
Overall, 12,913 miners voted o strike, with oaos against Turnout was 60 g ser cent, low by NUM standards. Areas that voted no are expected to abide by the majority verdict.
The union's executive was due to meet on Thursday March 11 to consider its next move. With April 2 already selected as a Europe-wide day of miners' protest, there is speculation that the strike will take place on that day.
The NACODSresult was due as Socialist Outlook went to would paralyse the pits, as it is illegal to work without them. A two-thirds majority is needed under the NACODS rule-book.
The NUM victory will boost activists in KMT, where the official campaign for a yes vote lacklustre. ballot is over some 27,000 job losses in on brush the NUM and NACODS votes even though the also mean rail sackings procedures, no outcome will be innounced until at least March 19. But under Tory anti-union laws, strike mandates only hold for 28 days If rail bosses mount a legal challenge, arguing that RMT have artificially manufactured the dispute, delays in getting a hearing could push the vote beyond its expiry date. Activists must be alive to the danger. The watchword has to be, name the day straightaway and then go for it, 100 per cent.
Outside of the NUM, NACODS and RMT, opportunities exist for those in other unions to link up their demands with coal and rail struggle. This is especially, but not exclusively, true in the public sector.
Once a date is set, we need to bring the biggest labour movement mobilisation in decades behind it. This should mean solidarity strike action wherever this is possible, and lunchtime and evening events where Campaign Group MP Jeremy Corbyn ists with campaigns outside, and short campaigning resolutions will be taken on each of these issues There will also be discussion the network of supporters.
Labour left achvists everywhere should be building this conterence ana working to ensure that we come out of it strengtenca for the may Data ties ahead.