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The miners-the union that screwed the Heath government in the 1972 pay strike and brought down the Tories in 1974-are once again in the forefront of the struggle to halt the offensive.

After TUC leaders have sat back and watched nearly two years of Thatcher's closures turn industrial Britain into a wasteland of dereliction and unemployment, miners have been the first to force their officials to wage a real fight on jobs.

From 6 am tomorrow morning (Tuesday) 24,000 South Wales miners will be on official strike. They have sought and received pledges of supporting action by transport workers to prevent the movement of six million tons of stockpiled coal.

Kent miners have voted to strike from next Monday.

Other areas must now be brought out at once. In Yorkshire, a ballot has already been held on strike action to defend jobs-and won 80% support, even though few Yorkshire pits are on the NCB's "hit list" for the axing of 25,000 jobs.

White collar staff have pledged full support to the strikes. At the of Saltley Gates, 1972, joined with engineers to halt coke miners battle But the national leadership wants to slow the pace. Last week's unanimous NUM Execu- partite talks between the NUM, workers abandoned by their thing they wish to see is the beat back the union laws! tive vote for a ballot was-des- the steel unions and the rail leaders to redundancy in private Tory government brought down rank and file. *Public sector workers, and pite the recommendation for unions on a joint campaign industry and the public sector. by militant working class action Now is the best time there- industrial workers facing cuts, strike action-a bid to hold off against closures and redundan- Mobilise now, alongside the which they know full well fore to press home the fight for: closures and redundancies: fight action and retain control. cles. miners! Develop and extend would flow on into a renewed *All out in the coalfields! now alongside the miners! For a It is essential that by the This was clearly seen as their strike into a general strike fight for socialist policies from a Don't wait for Gormley's ballot! General Strike to bring down time this ballot takes place, key simply protest campaign by to bring down the wretched returned Labour government. *Full support to the miners' the Tories! Build councils of areas are already out on strike, the rig! it wing union leaders. Thatcher government! The Foot/Healey leadership, struggles! No sackings in the action to unite all labour movewith flying pickets despatched But the militancy of the For Labour leaders, prepar- battered and bruised by the coal industry! Cut the working ment bodies in the strugele! to any pits still working. miners' action has already gone ing to make routine speeches on growing fight for democracy week, share the work available *Labour Party membersThe defiant action taken by beyond these limits. It is now Saturday's demonstration and accountabilty within the without loss of pay! step up the fight for active supthe miners offers the long- necessary to transiorm it into a against unemployment in Glas- Party and weakened by the *Steelworkers, railworkers, port for the miners: drive out needed focus for a struggle on united struggle to remove the gow, the miners' action will be a departure of the reactionary transport drivers: strike along- right wing MPs. Prepare to fight jobs throughout the public and Thatcher government. profound embarrassment. Gang of Three want the time to side the miners! Mass picketing against Foot and Healey for private sectors. Such a fight offers a beacon They will not dare to attack regroup their forces along with to extend the struggle into all socialist policies and a workers"

Already there have been tri- for countless thousands of the strikes-but the very last TUC right wingers in order to industries-defy Prior's anti-