The miners’ strike of 1984–1985 was a major industrial action within the British coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures. It was led by Arthur Scargill of the Arthur Scargill (NUM) against the National Coal Board (NCB), a government agency.
What was the reason for the miners strike?
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). By the early 1980s the collieries were losing money.
Who led the miners strike?
UK miners’ strike (1974), during the Three-Day Week. UK miners’ strike (1984–85), led by Arthur Scargill of the NUM.
Why did the miners strike in 1974?
Strike vote
On 24 January 1974, 81% of NUM members voted to strike, having rejected the offer of a 16.5% pay rise. In contrast to the regional divisions of other strikes, every region of the NUM voted by a majority in favour of strike action.
Who was involved in the coal strike?
J.P. Morgan intervenes
J.P. Morgan, the dominant figure in American finance, had played a role in resolving the 1900 strike. He was deeply involved in this strike as well: his interests included the Reading Railroad, one of the largest employers of miners.
Why did the miners strike in 1912?
Result: Minimum wage secured
Dispute involved nearly one million miners. It was the first national strike by miners and they aimed to secure a minimum wage. After 37 days, the government intervened and ended the strike by passing the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act 1912.
Why did African miners go on strike in 1935 and 1940?
The African miners had three major issues: low wages compared to European miners, a prohibition against working in mines reserved for Europeans despite high skills, and workplace harassment and brutality.
Did the Thatcher government provoke the miners strike?
The Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher enforced a law that required unions to ballot members on strike action. On 19 July 1984, Thatcher said in the House of Commons that giving in to the miners would be surrendering the rule of parliamentary democracy to the rule of the mob.
Who ended the coal strike?
On Friday, October 3, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt called a precedent-shattering meeting at the temporary White House at 22 Lafayette Place, Washington, D.C. A great strike in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania threatened a coal famine.
Who led the 1902 coal strike?
John Mitchell
John Mitchell led the United Mine Workers through the 5-1/2 month long anthracite coal strike of 1902. Workers rarely found a helping hand in the White House. President Hayes ordered the army to break the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. President Cleveland ordered federal troops to disrupt the Pullman Strike of 1894.
Did Labour close more pits than Thatcher?
Clement Attlee’s Labour government closed 101 pits between 1947 and 1951; Macmillan (Conservative) closed 246 pits between 1957 and 1963; Wilson (Labour) closed 253 in his two terms in office between 1964 and 1976; Heath (Conservative) closed 26 between 1970 and 1974; and Thatcher (Conservative) closed 115 between 1979
How much were miners paid in the 1970s?
Coal Miners (Pay)
| Underground workers | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16.00* | 26.1 |
| 1971 | 19.00 | 29.6 |
| 1972 | 25.00 | 34.6 |
| 1973 | 27.29 | 39.8 |
What was the biggest problem miners face?
Some miners were injured in explosions or electrocuted. Others fell off ladders, slipped on rocks, inhaled silica dust, or suffered from mercury, lead or arsenic poisoning. Many got sick from drinking dirty water and living too close together.
What effect did the miners strike have?
“as the strike went on the community changed”
Miners were extremely active within communities, for example, working with children and young people. Some men who had been convicted pointed out that this has ended their ability to take part in such activities, a matter of regret to them and the community.
How did the mine wars end?
The battle only ended after President Harding called in the army to suppress the uprising. Once the military intervened, the miners laid down their weapons and the fighting ended.
Who started the coal miners union?
John Llewellyn Lewis
President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) from 1920 until 1960 and founding president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), John Llewellyn Lewis was the dominant voice shaping the labor movement in the 1930s.
Why was Labour on the mines racially divided?
They were worried that these unskilled whites would not be properly trained and that they would take over the skilled jobs at lower wages. Then the mine-owners could lower the wages of all skilled miners.
How did black mine workers protest?
Miners in Nigel protested, saying they were being starved. In December 700 workers at Coronation Mine in Vryheid went on strike for better food and three meals a day. Mineworkers were prohibited from striking, which was against the law, and some were sentenced to prison terms, or had to pay hefty fines.
What did Zambia used to be called?
The former portectorate of Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia, ending 73 years of British rule. A wave of jubilation swept the country, which takes its name from the Zambezi River, Zambia’s border with Southern Rhodesia for hundreds of miles.
What did Thatcher do?
Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation (particularly of the financial sector), the privatisation of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions.
Why did UK stop mining coal?
Deep mining for coal was already on its death bed by 1984 as cheaper exports from abroad combined with a reluctance on the part of government to continue with subsidies, a changing energy culture and a rising environmental movement all conspired against the industry.