2024
STRIKES AS SEEN WHILST SITTING ON THE FENCE
2024 is the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike of 1984
There was MAJOR UNREST in the coal industry 3 TIMES plus a couple of MINOR ONES at OLLERTON COLLIERY where I worked as Surveyor for the mine from 1971 to 1986, under NCB, before being promoted to Senior Surveyor in the Nottinghamshire Area of British Coal in September 1986.
When I started as an Apprentice Surveyor in April 1953 at TEVERSAL Sub Area Office, No4, of the No4 Area, with HQ at Huthwaite in the East Midlands Division of the NCB I joined BACM (British Association of Colliery Management) and signed the mandatory NO STRIKE CLAUSE in my contract.
My main job was to assist or carry out all surveying duties and office work at Teversal Colliery and on occasions assist at the three other collieries in the group … Silverhill, Sutton and Pleasley.
I was transferred to OLLERTON in February 1971 and appointed Surveyor for the mine later in the year.
The first strike by the NUM members over pay lasting a month was from 10 January 1972 but members of NACODS (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLIERY OVERMEN, DEPUTIES AND SHOTFIRERS) WERE WORKING NORMALLY.
A meeting was held by the manager of the Ollerton mine for all staff members of BACM … (British Association of Colliery Management) the week before.
Dave Rodden outlined jobs that were necessary to keep the pit open and safe after the withdrawal of labour by the workforce and if NACODS members went on strike.
All jobs were voluntary and any preference would be considered.
It became obvious that the management team of Manager, Deputy Manager, Undermanager plus 3 assistant Undermanagers, Mechanical Engineer plus 2 Deputies and Electrical Engineer and 2 Deputies, Safety Engineer, Colliery Nurse, Surveyor plus Assistant, an Apprentice and Lady Tracer, Surface Superintendent plus Coal prep Manager and Assistant, Admin Officer and 3 clerks could not cover all duties both underground and surface on all shifts 24 / 7.
NACODS MEMBERS WERE WORKING UNDERGROUND ON SAFETY DUTIES ONLY, that is roadway and coal faces examinations etc.
At Area HQ, staff in all disciplines were asked to volunteer if needed and assist staff members at the pit. It would require working all 3 shifts, Days, Afternoons and Nights on some jobs and Weekends.
NUM OVERTIME BAN BEGAN ON 1st NOVEMBER 1971.
The SURVEYOR’S JOB AT A MINE IS WIDE AND VARIED and I carried on doing survey duties as normal on Weekdays, in the office and on the surface and underground and organising my staff of Senior Assistant, Assistant and Apprentice and Lady Tracer and WPIS Supervisory Linesman.
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS ARE FROM MY WORK DIARIES AND SHOW THE NUMBER OF VARIED JOBS DONE AND THE EXTRA SHIFTS WORKED.
A ROSTER OF ALL STAFF MEMBERS FOR ALL JOBS TO BE COVERED WAS ORGANISED BY DES MAPLEY INITIALLY UNTIL HE FINISHED. HOWEVER THIS WAS ANOTHER JOB I WOULD END UP DOING LATER IN THE STRIKE OF 1984 / 85 … ROSTER MANAGER, and what a job that would be. I said ‘Thank you very much’ to Walter Standage the manager, but his answer was ‘I know you can do it’. Some people who volunteered to help would ring me sometimes the day before and on a couple of occasions on the day to say they couldn’t come. I had to try to rearrange people but that was difficult so I filled in myself … No wonder nobody wanted the job.
JANUARY 1972
NUM STRIKE began on Monday 10th January 1972 …….
I WORKED MY NORMAL HOURS … 8.20am to around 4.40pm. On the first morning as I arrived at the Pit Lane in my car I was confronted by a large group of pickets who thought I was a ‘workman’ and about 10 of them began picking my car up, with me in it, to tip it over. Fortunately Bill Bracegirdle one of the NUM Committee members was there and straight away he intervened and told them that I was the Surveyor, They lowered my car gently and let me pass. I never had any more problems getting into work afterwards although some others did.
Thurs 13 … Underground survey work 116s district.
Mon 17th … FIRST JOB WAS WEIGHING LORRIES AT THE LANDSALE AND BOOKING RESULTS … (Job No 1) … alone.
Tues 18 and Wed 19 … CLEANING OUT THE BOILER BLOW-DOWN POND (Job No2) with 2 of my staff.
Thurs 20 and Fri 21 … CLEANING OUT AN OVERFLOWING SETTLING POND ON TIP. (Job No 3), again with 2 of my staff.
Wed 26 … RIDING SHOTGUN (Job No 4) to the WESTMINSTER BANK in Mansfield to collect WAGES MONEY. Accompanied the lorry driver and a following car with 2 others. The idea was that no one would know which vehicle the money was transported in should a hijack be attempted.
PUTTING UP WAGES in envelopes and CHECKING PENSIONS in WAGES OFFICE. (Job No 5) plus 2 clerks.
Thur 27 … DRAINING No3 LAGOON ON TIP (Job No 6) plus 2 of my staff.
Fri 28 … Meeting of BACM members re strike called by manager to outline proposals.
Sun 30 … BACM Meeting in the evening.
FEBRUARY 1972
Wed 2 … ICY, CHECKING AND SANDING RAILS AND POINTS ON UPPER SIDINGS DOWN TO COAL PREP PLANT (Job No 7) (plus one of my staff).
Thur 3 … CLEANING UP TENSION END AND LOWERING WAGONS UNDER SCREENS (Job No 8) (plus one of my staff).
Fri 4 … LECTURES to Overmen and deputies on surveying in SJAB Hut. (Job No 9) Self.
Mon 7 … SCREENS … cleaning up and lowering wagons AND FILLING TRUCKS WITH COAL … (Job No 10) plus one other.
Tues 8 … SCREENS … continued.
Wed 9 … SCREENS … continued.
Thur 10 … SCREENS … continued.
Fri 11 … SCREENS … continued.
Mon 14 … SCREENS … continued filling trucks.
Tues 15 …SCREENS … continued … finished washing coal at COAL PREP PLANT
ON 16 FEB THERE WAS A TOTAL ELECTRICITY BLACKOUT WHEN 12 POWER STATIONS CLOSED DOWN TO SAVE FUEL. INDUSTRY WAS PUT ON A 3 DAY WEEK.
A COURT OF ENQUIRY CHAIRED BY LORD WILBERFORCE (SET ON BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT) RECOMMENDED A £6 INCREASE PER DAY.
Wed 16 … SCREENS … CONTINUED CLEANING UP (Plus one other as before).
Thur 17 … SCREENS … CLEANING UP DIRT BELT SPILLAGE (Job No 11) (plus one other).
Fri 18 … SCREENS … continued on DIRT BELT (plus one other).
Mon 21 … SCREENS … FINISHED DIRT BELT, started cleaning COAL BELT SPILLAGE (Job No 12) (plus one).
Tues 22 … SCREENS … cleaning CROSS BELT FROM BUNKER TO SCREENS (Job No 13) (plus one).
Thur 24 … Cleaning DRIFT BELT … from screens to Washery (Job No 14) (plus one).
Sun 27 … NUM STRIKE ENDED … PAY RISE ACCEPTED … £34.50 FOR FACE WORKERS AND £25.00 ELSEWHERE UNDERGROUND AND £23.00 FOR SURFACE WORKERS. ADULT RATES NOW FROM AGE 18. CONSOLIDATION OF THE 5 DAY BONUS INTO THE WAGE RATES AND 5 EXTRA DAYS HOLIDAY AND ALSO SUBSIDISED TRAVEL PAY FROM HOME TO WORK AND BACK.
Mon 28 … NORMAL WORK RESUMED … I HAD WORKED 23 SHIFTS …
APRIL 1973
ON 3 APRIL 1973 A PITHEAD BALLOT GAVE A 3:2 MAJORITY AGAINST STRIKE ACTION OVER A FURTHER PAY CLAIM.
THE NCB CONCEDED TO A THIRD WEEKS HOLIDAY, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED UNTIL 1977.
ON 1 MAY 1973 MANY MINERS JOINED A DAY OF ACTION STRIKE ORGANISED BY THE TUC IN PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PAY RESTRAINT. ONLY ONE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE PIT DID NOT WORK.
NOVEMBER 1973
Fri 9 … Special meeting of BACM MEMBERS re intended strike …
IN ORDER TO KEEP THE NORTH SIDE WORKINGS GAS FREE THE INBYE BOOSTER FANS HAD TO BE MAINTAINED AND CHECKED EVERY 30 minutes.
It was a 2 man job, to be taken in turns. The seating area was some 50m away from the booster fans through three doors to be away from the very noisy fans.
As my companion I had THE DIRECTOR OF OPENCAST (quite frightened on the first cage ride with me, because the Deputy manager John Daniels was driving)
OTHERS WERE
PRODUCTION MANAGER, CHIEF MINING ENGINEER BOB SCOTT, UNDERMANAGER ERNIE CORCORAN, ASSISTANT UNDERMANAGERS, SEVERAL PLANNERS INC JOHN HERBERT and CIVIL ENGINEERS INCLUDING MY EX BOSS AT TEVERSAL BERNARD BAILEY and AREA VENTILATION ENGINEERS, AND OTHER PiIT PERSONNEL and, including my staff.
ALL WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED FOR THAT PARTICULAR JOB.
Having been shown what to do the previous week by the man doing the job, I then had to instruct all of them how to do the job and accompanied them several times until they felt confident to do the job themselves so we that we could share the task.
THE NUM SUBMITTED A 32% WAGE CLAIM BUT DUE TO GOVERNMENT COUNTER INFLATION GUIDELINES THE NCB WERE UNABLE TO OFFER MIRE THAN 7% PLUS INCREASES IN ALLOWANCES
ANOTHER OVERTIME BAN WAS CALLED FOR FROM 12 NOVEMBER 1973.
Sun 18 … BOOSTER FAN READINGS AND RECORDED IN A BOOK (Job No 15) every 30 minutes at 34s Top Hard N side (self) … 5.45am to 3pm … ALONE … 4 MILES INBYE IN PIT from 6.30am till 12.45pm … Undermanager had forgotten! 12.45pm showing Ernie Corcoran how to do the job.
Sat 24 … BOOSTER FAN readings every 30 minutes at 34s … 5.45pm to 3am,(plus one other).
Sun 25 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES FROM HEATING at 20s AIRWAY (self) (Job No 16) … 5.45pm to 3am, (plus one other) and I got the air samples in a metal tube using a hand pump.
I used to take the samples to the NCB LABORATORY on the High Street in Mansfield Woodhouse on my way home … for analysis, the result would be phoned through to the pit. (Job 16A).
DECEMBER 1973
Sat 1 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES FROM HEATING SITE at 20s Airway 11am to 7.15pm … plus one other but self for air samples.
Sun 2 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES from HEATING SITE at 20s AIRWAY and MEASURES AT 20s FACE FALL (self) … (Job No 17) … 12 noon to 8pm … as above.
Sat 8 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE. One other plus self for air samples and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (Job No 18) (self) … 5pm to 2 am.
Sun 9 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE. DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) 5pm to 2am, plus one other.
Sat 15 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE. . DEPUTY DUTIES for 20s face. (Job No 19) … ALONE IN THE PIT ALL SHIFT … 5pm to 2am … PHONED Control Room about every hour to report in.
Note … I had attended an EVENING COURSE in 1964 at Westbourne School at Sutton, tutored by Joe Morley Undermanager at Silverhill and passed the Gas testing and hearing (AE Dyson Head of Mining dept) and Oral (Wm Buck, Lecturer) at West Notts Technical College, Shotfirer’s practical exam (Colin Wells, Bevin boy), Manager at Silverhill) and Oral (Arthur Townsend, Manager Brookhill) at old South Normanton Colliery offices and Deputy’s practical exam Waterloo 22s and oral at Bentinck (EW Hopkins, Manager Swanwick) so the Manger Walter Standage authorised me to carry out the duties as mentioned.
Sun 16 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s plus one other and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE (self) 5am to 2 pm.
Sat 22 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE … 6pm to 2am.
Sun 23 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY … 12 noon to 8pm.
Mon 24 … CHRISTMAS EVE … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY … 12 noon to 8pm … all same as above.
Sun 30 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one) and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) … 12 noon to 8pm.
Mon 31 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one) and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) … 12 noon to 8pm.
(Same as above)
JANUARY 1974
FOR THE FIRST TIME A PUBLIC HOLIDAY WAS GRANTED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN ENGLAND AND WALES. IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN A TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY IN SCOTLAND.
One 2 JANUARY 1974 A 3 DAY WEEK WAS INTRODUCED BY THE GOV’T TO MOST FIRMS DUE TO THE MINER’S STRIKE.
Wed 2 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one) and DRIVING DRAPER’SPADDY (self) … 12 noon to 8pm.
Sun 6 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s and N side (plus one) and MONITORING THE METHANE PUMP (self) (Job No 20) … 6pm to 2am.
Sat 12 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one), DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY, DEPUTY DUTIES at 20s and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE (self)… 5pm to 2am.
Sun 20 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s, (plus one), DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) and 44s AIRWAY DEPUTY CHECK (self) (Job No 21) … 6pm to 2am.
Sun 27 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one) … DEPUTY DUTIES for 20s FACE FALL and AIR SAMPLES at 20s HEATING SITE … (self) … 12 noon to 8pm.
Thursday 31 … NUM voted 81% FOR STRIKE … on OVERTIME BAN TILL NOW …
FEBRUARY 1974
Sun 3 … BOOSTER FAN readings at 34s (plus one) and DEPUTY DUTY for 20s and DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) … 6pm to 2am.
Sat 9 … NUM ON STRIKE.
A meeting was held by the manager Walter Standage and all members of staff were asked in turn regarding the various jobs that would be required to be done. No pressure was to be put on anyone, it was purely voluntary. The first job offered to me was a Winder, at that time it was steam winding. I said I would do it if they couldn’t find anyone else. I was prepared to do any job and as will be seen I never did winding but did 44 other jobs over the periods of unrest, more than anyone else at the pit, in the Area and possibly in the country … . Of course we went to see how the various jobs were done the week before. I found out that there were short cuts to most jobs that the men had sorted out. For example after driving Draper’s paddy for several times standing up and holding onto the controls I noticed a nog of wood near to the controls. I found out that placing and jamming the piece of wood down on the driving pedal the engine ran itself and all you needed to do was to slow the engine down at the start and finish points and at a bend and then at the scissors passing point as it was a 3 rail system, and the rest of the time you could sit on a seat like the NUM driver did and read a newspaper or a book just keeping an eye on the distance marker showing where the paddy cars were … wrong, but so easy.
FROM 11 FEB 1974 A FURTHER NATIONAL STRIKE BEGAN AND THIS TIME NACODS MEMBERS WITHHELD THEIR LABOUR LEAVING ONLY BACM STAFF TO KEEP THE PITS OPEN.
Mon 11 … SURFACE BOILERS (Job No 22) … FIRING COAL BY HAND AND DE ASHING AND TAKING IT AWAY IN BARROWS TO A PILE TO COOL OFF … (THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM WAS BROKEN) … 4 men including me … 4pm to 12 midnight.
Tues 12 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 4pm to 12 midnight.
Wed 13 … SURFACE BOILERS … 6 men … 4pm to 12 midnight.(Training 2 others).
Thur 14 … SURFACE BOILERS … 3 men … 4pm to 12 midnight (we decided that we could manage with just 3 men on back shift … gave each one of us a shift off in turn … it worked … nobody found out).
Sat 16 … SURFACE BOILERS … 3 men … 4pm to 12 midnight.
Mon 18 … SURFACE BOILERS … 3 men … 8am to 4pm … plus BANKSMAN (self) at No 1 SHAFT. (Job No 23)
Tue 19 … SURFACE BOILERS … 3 men … 8am to 4pm … plus BANKSMAN at No1 shaft.
Wed 20 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 8am to 5pm … plus BANKSMAN at No1 shaft then Underground … ONSETTING in No1 PIT BOTTOM (self) (Job No 24)
Thur 21 … MEASURED OVERWIND DISTANCES at No1 and No2 SHAFTS (self with 2 Mechanical engineers) (Job No 25). DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY (self) … 8am to 5 pm.
Fri 22 … ONSETTER AND BANKSMAN at BOTH No1 and No2 SHAFTS (self) THEN DRIVING DRAPER’S PADDY TWICE (self) … SET THE PIT BOTTOM PUMPS RUNNING PUMPING WATER FROM THE TANKS UP THE No2 SHAFT, WHILST I WENT INBYE. WHEN I RETURNED SOME HOURS LATER I HEARD WATER RUNNING AND IT WAS CASCADING DOWN THE SHAFT AND THE SUMP WAS ALMOST FULL. I CONTACTED AN ENGINEER AND HE INSTRUCTED ME WHAT TO DO.
I HAD TO PUMP THE WATER FROM No2 SHAFT SUMP BACK INTO THE TANKS (self) (Job No 26) … There was a BURST PIPE IN No 2 SHAF and all the water I had pumped from the tanks had cascaded back down the shaft and filled the sump, so I had to stay longer to pump it back out (self). PLUS 2 Engineers … 8am to 5pm.
Sat 23 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 8am to 4 pm.
I WAS BANKSMAN AT No2 SHAFT FOR QUITE A LARGE PART OF THE SHIFT WHILST 3 ENGINEERS REMOVED THE BROKEN WATER PIPE AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. IT WAS A JOB I DID NOT RELISH AS THE CAGE WITH THE MEN ON TOP HAD TO BE RAISED OR LOWERED ACCURATELY INTO POSITION OPPOSITE THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE FOR THEM TO UNDO THE BOLTS THAT WERE SEIZED UP. IT TOOK SOME TIME WITH HAMMERS, CHISELS AND SPANNERS. AND THEN GO TO THE TOP OF THE PIPE AND DO SAME, THEN THEY HAD TO SECURE THE PIPE TO THE CAGE. IT TOOK HOURS AND I HAD TO LISTEN HANGING OVER THE SHAFT TOP FOR A SIGNAL SOUNDED ON A GONG WITH A HAMMER. IT WAS 4 TO LOWER STEADY AND SLOW AND ONE TO STOP AND FIVE TO RAISE SLOWLY AND ONE TO STOP. THESE SIGNALS WERE DONE NUMEROUS TIMES AS THEY GRAPPLED WITH THE OLD AND NEW PIPES FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE. THE AIR WAS RUSHING AT THE UPCAST PIT TOP AS IT WAS SUCKED DOWN AND JOINED THE AIR COMING UP IN THE FAN DUCT. I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE GONG AT TIMES AS THE NOISE WAS REVERBERATING AND DISTORTED THE GONG SOUNDS. ONCE I THOUGHT IT WAS FIVE AND I SIGNALLED 5. IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A ONE ON THE GONG HIT BY THE HAMMER. I RANG 1 TO THE ENGINEMAN WHO STOPPED THE CAGE. HAVING BEEN ON SHAFT EXAMS I KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN THE CHAIR STOPS SUDDENLY IT TENDS TO BOUNCE A BIT. THAT’S WHAT I WAS FRIGHTENED OF. I THEN RANG THE CORRECT 4 AND WAITED FOR A 1 TO STOP WHICH THEY DID AND THEY CARRIED ON WORKING. ANYWAY I APOLOGISED PROFUSELY WHEN THEY GOT OFF THE CHAIR AT THE SURFACE HAVING COMPLETED THE JOB. ‘NO WORRY’ THEY SAID, ‘YOU REACTED QUICKLY AND SO DID THE ENGINE DRIVER, THANK GOODNESS’.
PUMPING WAS ABLE TO BE RESUMED BUT I LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO IT.
I ALWAYS RECKONED THAT WAS THE WORST JOB I EVER HAD TO DO !!!
Sun 24 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 8am to 4 pm.
Mon 25 … SURFACE BOILERS … 3 men … 12 midnight to 8am.
Tue 26 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 12 midnight to 8 am.
Thur 28 … SURFACE BOILERS … 5 men … 12 midnight to 8am.
MARCH 1974
Mon 4 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 4pm to 12 midnight.
Tue 5 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 4pm to 12 midnight.
ASSISTING MENDING No 10 GRATE BROKEN CHAIN INSIDE HOT BOILER, (Job No 27) then CLEANED OUT PIT HEAD BATHS WITH HOSE (plus one). (Job No 28)
Wed 6 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 4 pm to 12 midnight, FINISHED REPAIRING No10 GRATE BROKEN CHAIN inside hot boiler with Deputy Mechanical Engineer.
Thur 7 … Surface boilers … 5 men … 4pm to 12 midnight … FETCHING A TRUCK WITH THE PIT DIESEL ENGINE AND LOADING COAL into the HOPPERS (plus one) (Job No 29) and CHECKWATER SOFTENER (self). (Job No 30)
Fri 8 … SURFACE BOILERS … 4 men … 4pm to 12 midnight … LOADING COAL INTO HOPPERS (2 men.)
40 SHIFTS (PLUS 23 IN PREVIOUS UNREST PERIOD) … TOTAL 63
Sun 10 Mar 1974 … NUM STRIKE OVER … ACCEPTED NEW PAY OFFERS FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS BY THE PAY BOARD … £45 PER WEEK FOR FACE WORKERS.
A LUMP SUM OF £500 ON RETIREMENT AND AT 51 YEARS OF AGE FOR INCAPACITY.
NORMS WERE INTRODUCED FOR EACH COAL FACE. THESE WERE THEORETICAL TASKS AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED TO PRODUCE THE PLANNED AMOUNT OF COAL OR THE AMOUNT OF RIPPING REQUIRED.
THE SYSTEM FOR EACH TASK WAS WORKED OUT BY METHOD STUDY AND AGREED BY THE NUM UNION AND SIGNED BY THE MANAGER. IT USED TO BE CALLED AGREEMENT BY ‘THE 3 WISE MEN’.
THE ‘PLAN FOR COAL’ WAS PRODUCED BY THE NCB WITH A TARGET OF MAINTAINING 120 MILLION TONS OF DEEP MINED COAL. IT ALSO INVOLVED EXPANSION OF OPENCAST COAL AND HEAVY CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO 1985.
HOWEVER 40 MILLION TONS OF OBSOLETE CAPACITY LOST BY CLOSING AGING PITS BUT MAINTAINING THE PLANNED LEVEL OF OUTPUT.
IN 1956 THERE WERE 840 PITS PRODUCING 210.6m TONS WITH 687,400 MEN AND BOYS BUT THE CLEAN AIR ACT 1956 (due to 12,000 deaths through smog) pits that were turning poor quality coal and dirty coal were closed)
BY 1974 THERE WERE 279 PITS (ONLY ONE THIRD) PRODUCING 98.7m TONS (LESS THAN A HALF) BY 252,000 MEN AND BOYS (ABOUT ONE THIRD).
MANY PITS NOW WERE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THE PLANNED OUTPUT AND BECAME UNECONOMICAL AND WOULD NEVER RECOVER.
NOVEMBER 1983
Tue 2 … ANOTHER NUM OVERTIME BAN STARTED over POSSIBLE PIT CLOSURES.
Sat 5 … Surface … POWER HOUSE (Job No 31) reading the many dials, every hour. (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Sun 6 … POWER HOUSE READINGS and MAIN FAN READINGS (Job No 32) and CHECK (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Wed 9 … LOUND HALL TRAINING CENTRE … Gave a LECTURE TO SAFETY COMMITTEE PERSONNEL ON SURVEYING AND PLANS (Job No 33)
Sun 20 … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT (self) (Job No 34) … 12 midnight to 6am.
Sat 26 … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings and BANKSMAN at No1 SHAFT (Job No 35) 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 27 … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings … 6pm to 12 midnight
DECEMBER 1983
Sun 4 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 6am to 12 noon.
Sat 10 … POWER HOUSE readings … (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sun 11 … POWER HOUSE readings and BANKSMAN No1 SHAFT … (self) … 12 midnight to 6am.
Sat 17 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 midnight to 6am.
Sun 25 … CHRISTMAS DAY … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon … I volunteered for this shift to allow one with young children to enjoy the festivities. At home my wife was very understanding and we had our Christmas later with our 2 daughters.
Mon 26 … BOXING DAY … POWER HOUSE readings and TOPPING UP BATTERIES IN LAMP ROOM (self) (Job No 36) … 12 noon to 6pm … same as above.
Tue 27 … STATUTORY HOLIDAY … POWER HOUSE readings and TOPPING UP BATTERIES IN LAMP ROOM (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
JANUARY 1984 … Still no problems with NUM re Overtime ban.
Sun 1 … Swapped shift for Dec 30 … POWER HOUSE and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Mon 2 BANK HOLIDAY … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sat 7 … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
SOME EXTRA VOLUNTEERS from Area HQ … now 8 men roster instead of 6.
Sun 15 … POWER HOUSE reading (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Sun 22 … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Wed 25 … AREA HQ … I GAVE A TALK to a group of INDIAN MINING ENGINEERS … discussion over lunch, then questions in afternoon. Normal working hours.
Sat 28 … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
FEBRUARY 1984
Sat 4 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sat 11 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 19 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sat 25 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 26 … POWER HOUSE readingsSE and MAIN FAN readings and OPERATING COMPRESSORS (self) (Job No 37) 12 midnight to 6am.
MARCH 1984
Thu 1 … THE CLOSURE OF CORTONWOOD COLLIERY in Yorkshire was the catalyst that caused the executives of the NUM to call for a National strike ballot, against the wishes of Arthur Scargill, President of the NUM.
IT WOULD LEAD TO DISASTER FOR THE MINERS AND THE VIRTUAL CLOSURE OF THE INDUSTRY AS COLLIERY AFTER COLLIERY WOULD REPORT ON ABNORMALITIES SUCH AS WORKINGS BEING FLOODED, PANELS BEING ABANDONED ONLY PARTWAY THROUGH THEIR PLANNED LIFE DUE TO GATE CRUSH, MACHINERY SEIZED UP, ETC, ETC WHEN LACK OF MAINTENANCE WORK HAD AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION.
THE CLOSURE OF CORTONWOOD WAS A MISTAKE BY THE AREA DIRECTOR WHO MISINTERPRETED THE MESSAGE THAT THE PIT WAS TO CLOSE ON 6 APRIL 1984. BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY HAD TO LOSE 4m TONNES OF OUTPUT AND ALSO LOSE 20,000 MEN. CORTONWOOD MINERS HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT THE PIT WOULD REMAIN OPEN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 YEARS. IT WAS NOT ON THE CLOSURE LIST AS 80 PLUS MINERS HAD ONLY BEEN TRANSFERRED THERE RECENTLY FROM A CLOSED COLLIERY. THE COKE PLANT AT
Sun 4 … Time off … NUM MEN AT WORK TRYING TO CONTAIN A HEATING AT 2s AIRWAY FAULT POSITION … WINDERS AT WORK TILL SUNDAY EVENING
Sun 11 … POWER HOUSE readings. CONTROL ROOM (Job No 38) MONITORING (plus 2) and PHONE and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT (self).
ASSISTED an Engineer to OFF-LOAD A PUMP in SURFACE WORKSHOP (Job No 39) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Mon 12 … STRIKE STARTED BUT ONLY HALF OF 184,000 MINERS WITHDREW THEIR LABOUR.
I ORGANISED A SEMINAR on plans for OVERMEN AND DEPUTIES … 8.45am to 3.15pm in SJAB Hut (Job No 40)
Tue 13 … MEETING re POSSIBLE STRIKE ACTION BY NOTTINGHAMSHIRE MINERS.
Wed 14 … Night shift 2am to 8.45am … CONTROL ROOM MONITORING (plus one) …
FLYING PICKETS FROM YORKSHIRE AT END OF PIT LANE … much noise … then silence about 3.30am … it was quite frightening for RICHARD SNEADE AND ME as we thought they were going to rush the pit. It appeared that Arthur Scargill NUM Sec had arrived to talk to them … The COLLIERY OVERMAN Alan Dolphin rang from down the pit … Could he and the Night shift men come out as they were feared for their families? I agreed and organised a Winder and I went to No2 SHAFT AS BANKSMAN AND COLLECTED MOTTIES TO TAKE TO TIME AND WAGES OFFICE … THE PIT WAS CLEAR. They went home over the dirt tip in their pit muck as they did not want to confront the pickets.
Rang the Manager Walter Standage AT HOME, OBVIOUSLY WAKING HIM UP. HE IN TURN RANG the Production Manager Bob Anderson and they both came by about 5am. The pickets had dispersed … they slept in cars BUT created mayhem at nearby Thoresby Colliery from 6am next morning to try to stop miners going to work. Damage was done to fencing but the miners got into work.
Thu 15 … Some Ollerton miners went on STRIKE but majority at work. Some COSA WEEKLY PAID INDUSTRIAL STAFF ON STRIKE FOR 2 DAYS ONLY … Included Doug Stockham my Supervisory Linesman.
Fri 16 … MULTI-TASKING … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings, BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT, CONTROL ROOM, CHARGING and TOPPING UP BATTERIES in LAMP ROOM and SERVICING OIL LAMPS (self) (Job No 41) … 8am to 5pm. (Because someone not turned up).
Sat 17 … WPIS working but were to have a ballot on possible Strike action.
Sat 17 … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT (self) … 2pm to 8pm.
Sun 18 … POWER HOUSE readings, MAIN FAN readings, CHARGING LAMPS and SERVICING OIL LAMPS in Lamp Room (self) … 8am to 2pm.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NUM MINERS VOTED 3 to 1 AGAINST STRIKE ACTION.
NORTH DERBYSHIRE NUM OUT ON STRIKE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD VOTED BY A SMALL MARGIN NOT TO STRIKE BUT IT WAS OVERRULED BY PETER HEATHFIELD NUM SEC.
44 pits working out of 174.
RECAPPED WINDING ROPE at No2 shaft … Underground men on surface assisting and on other duties.
Tue 27 … SOUTH DERBYSHIRE NUM OUT ON STRIKE.
38 pits at work.
NCB OFFERS ‘CEASE FIRE’ by suspending High Court contempt action against Yorkshire NUM over UNLAWFUL PICKETING.
APRIL 1984 … I was on Annual leave Mon 2 to Sat 14.
Tue 3 … 4 men staged an underground ‘sit in’ at 33s Parkgate panel as a protest.
Wed 4 … Another joined the ‘sit in’.
Thu 5 … All 5 men came out of the pit after 64 hours underground.
Sun 15 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sat 21 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Noted that some pickets were living in Ollerton village.
Fri 27 … ARTHUR SCARGILL at Ollerton & Bevercotes Miner’s Welfare attended by over 500 men.
Sat 28 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 29 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
STARTED 2 SHIFT COALING … Days and Afternoons but on lower than planned output.
No1 shaft rope change cancelled … because NO BLACKSMITHS WERE AT WORK.
MAY 1984
Wed 2 … ONLY 12 MEN turned up for Night shift.
Friday 4 … no output on Dayshift as the MACHINE DRIVERS were on strike.
Sun 6 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 13 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to plus 12 noon …
With Engineers ON TOP OF CAGE doing No 2 SHAFT EXAM particularly at Fan drift level, Main Bright Inset and Pit bottom. (Job No 42)
Tue 15 … 300 pickets including women pickets at Pit Lane.
Fri 18 … Discuss with POLICE re periphery of Colliery and supplied plans for their use.
Thur 24 … First meeting in London NCB versus NUM. NCB offered to extend on pit closures. Talks broke down after 1 hour.
Sat 26 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 27 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Pit holidays … Third week … Mon 28 May to 2 June 1984.
Thu 31 … Yorks NUM and NCB met to exchange views and agreed to meet again.
JUNE 1984
Sun 3 … POWER HOUSE readings a MAIN FAN readings. BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT and Running COMPRESSORS (self) … 12 midnight to 6am.
Mon 4 … More men back to work.
Sun 10 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings and LAMPROOM DUTIES (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Wed 13 … NCB and NUM resumed talks in Rotherham … Arthur Scargill walked out.
Sat 16 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
THE BATTLE OF ORGREAVE COKE WORKS BY THOUSANDS OF YORKSHIRE;
STRIKING MINERS PICKETTING THE ENTRANCE TO STOP LORRIES ENTERING OR
LEAVING THE SITE WAS CONTROLLED BY HUNDREDS OF POLICEMEN FROM ALL
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IT WAS REVEALED AFTERWARDS THAT THE NUMBERS
WERE SWELLED BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO AS SEEN ON
PHOTOGRAPHS WERE IN POLICE UNIFORMS BUT DID NOT HAVE EPAULETS.
Sun 24 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon. To MANSFIELD WOODHOUSE LABOATORY ON HIGH STREET to take AIR SAMPLE BOTTLES from 2s HEATING.
Fri 29 … All the existing NUM committee voted off including Jimmy Hood Secretary and Denis Walker President. Others were temporarily appointed … Eric Flint, Jonah Porter and Steve Knowles.
Sat 30 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
JULY 1984
Sun 1 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sat 7 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Sun 8 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings and LAMP ROOM DUTIES (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sat 14 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 12 noon to 6 pm.
Sun 15 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Ian McGregor Chairman of NCB wrote to all miners … stating that he would not withdraw streamlining the coal industry.
Friday 20 … Substitute Statutory holiday … POWER HOUSE and MAIN FAN readings and LAMP ROOM DUTIES (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Pit holidays … Mon 23 July to 4 August 1984
Sun 29 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings and LAMP ROOM DUTIES and TO SWITCH No 9 and No 10 WATER VALVES OFF (self) … 6am to 12 noon. (Job No 43)
AUGUST 1984
Sun 5 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings and LAMP ROOM DUTIES and running COMPRESSORS (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 5 / Mon 6 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT. Running COMPRESSORS. SWITCHED WATER VALVES OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN LATER. (self) … 12 midnight to 6am.
Thu 9 … 500 PICKETS at end of Pit Lane. A large contingent of Police were also there and scuffles occurred.
Sun 12 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sat 18 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 19 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sat 25 … SECURITY DUTIES (Job No 44) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Mon 27 … Pit holiday … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 noon to 6pm.
Tues 28 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 midnight to 6am.
SEPTEMBER 1984
Sat 8 … NCB and NUM met in Edinburgh, moved to Doncaster then London … Ian McGregor suggests only closures where reserves cannot be developed.
Sat 8 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 12 noon to 6pm. (60 shifts total)
Sun 9 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings … 6am to 12 noon.
Thu 13 … 54 pits working.
Sat 15 … NCB v NUM talks break down … Scargill sticks to no closures at all.
Friday 28 … NACODS VOTED TO STRIKE …
Sun 30 … POWER HOUSE-readings and MAIN FAN readings … 6am to 12 noon.
OCTOBER 1984
Mon 1 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings. LAMP ROOM DUTIES and BANKSMAN AT N … 12 midnight to 6am.
Sun 7 … Power House readings and Main Fan readings and Running Compressors … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sat 13 … Power House readings and Main Fan readings … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 14 … Power House readings and Main Fan readings … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Mon 15 … NCB and NUM meet but talks break down … talking in circles for 100 hours.
Tue 16 … 80 pickets on Afternoon shift.
Wed 17 … NACODS (Midlands) vote to STRIKE next Thursday 25 October 1984.
Wed 24 … NACODS CALL OFF STRIKE.
Thur 25 … NCB and NUM meet at ACAS.
Wed 31 … Talks break down at ACAS.
NOVEMBER 1984
Thu 1 … I GAVE A TALK TO SAFETY REPS from Thoresby and Bevercotes Pits.
Sat 3 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN reading (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
800 men back to work and more would follow every day.
Sat 10 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sun 25 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Mon 26 … POWER HOUSE readings and MAIN FAN readings. BANKSMAN at No2 Shaft and Running COMPRESSORS (self) … 12 midnight to 6am.
DECEMBER 1984
Sat 1 and Sun 2 … Weekend off … NUM men working on 2s heating.
Sat 8 and Sun 9 … Weekend off … NUM men working on 2s heating.
Fri 14 … Tuition in Control Room on computer control of Parkgate Booster fans.
Sat 15 / Sun 16 … Weekend off … NUM men working on 2s heating. Booster fans switched on.
Sat 22 … POWER HOUSE readings … (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 23 … SECURITY DUTIES … (plus 2) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Mon 24 … Rest day … CHRISTMAS EVE … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Tue 25 … CHRISTMAS DAY … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Wed 26 … BOXING DAY … POWER HOUSE readings … (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Thu 27 … COLLIERY REST DAY … SECURITY DUTIES … (plus 2) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Fri 28 … COLLIERY REST DAY … POWER HOUSE readings and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT(self) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sat 29 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) and LAMP ROOM DUTIES (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 30 … POWER HOUSE readings and BANKSMAN at No2 SHAFT (self) … 6am to 12 noon.
JANUARY 1985
Tue 1 … NEW YEARS DAY … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sat 5 … CONTROL ROOM … MONITORING REMOTE CONTROL OF BOOSTER FANS. (self) (Job No 44) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 6 … POWER HOUSE readings (self) … 12 noon to 6pm.
Sun 13 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sat 19 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6am to 12 noon.
Sun 20 / Mon 21 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 12 midnight to 6am.
FEBRUARY 1985
Sat 2 … NUM men working on cleats in No 1 Shaft, so no staff were needed.
Sun 3 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6am to 12 noon.
Mon 4 … Now only 11 pits not working out of 174 with 79 pits producing coal.
Sun 10 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sun 17 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6pm to 12 midnight.
Sun 24 … SECURITY DUTIES (plus 2) … 6am to 12 noon. 89 shifts worked
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NUM MINERS TOOK OFF THE OVERTIME BAN.
Thu 28 … NACODS REFUSED TO SUPERVISE OTHER THAN SAFETY WORK.
MARCH 1985
Sun 3 … NUM CALL OFF STRIKE.
Tue 5 … ORDERLY RETURN TO WORK by remainder of NUM men.
Sat 9 … NACODS AGREED TO SUPERVISE OVERTIME WORKING.
NUM WORKING NORMALLY ON OVERTIME FROM NOW ON.
Sat 16 … Parade through Ollerton in memory of David Jones, picket who was killed on the picket line at Ollerton Pit Lane end on Forest Road.
CONCLUSION:
Overall the NUM hierarchy had shot themselves in the foot.
Because Senior management personnel were assisting at weekends, questions were asked because some of the work being done seemed to be only part time. If we hadn’t done those jobs we would never have known what the men did. Following the end of the strike many jobs were lost or rationalised by a man doing 2 jobs instead of one. Also the manpower was virtually halved at some pits.
Members of BACM and some COSA members were able to keep the pits open but at some pits conditions deteriorated causing some districts to be abandoned due to roadway distortion, flooding and even at some pits causing proposed developments to be abandoned. Much valuable mining equipment had to be left on prematurely abandoned districts.
OUTPUT TONNAGES AT THE WORKING PITS HAD MORE THAN HALVED.
HOWEVER DEEP EMOTIONS, EVEN PREVALENT TODAY AFTER 40 YEARS, WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SPLIT AND SOME STILL REFUSE TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER WHERE ONE BROTHER OR FATHER WAS ON STRIKE AND THE OTHER BROTHER OR FATHER OR OTHER RELATIVE WORKED FOR EXAMPLE. EVEN FRIENDS.
A VALID REASON FOR NOT GOING ON STRIKE WAS THAT THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE MINERS HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, EITHER TO CARRY ON WORKING OR TO STRIKE. THEY THOUGHT THAT DEMOCRACY WOULD ALLOW THEM A VOTE. ARTHUR SCARGILL WAS ADAMANT AND DENIED THEM A VOTE.
I BELIEVE IF HE HAD DONE THEN THE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND SOUTH DERBYSHIRE / LEICESTERSHIRE NUM WOULD HAVE COME OUT BUT ALL ARTHUR SCARGILL WAS DOING WAS TRYING TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT WHERE MARGARET THATCHER WAS CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER.
SHE HAD SET ON IAN McGREGOR AS CHAIRMAN OF NCB WHO COULD EASILY OVERCOME THE MILITANTS AS WAS SEEN AFTER 12 MONTHS OF FUTILE STRIKE.
IT WAS OBVIOUS TO US MANAGEMENT STAFF FROM DAY ONE THAT THEY COULD NOT WIN.
EVERY STRIKE THROUGHOUT THE COAL INDUSTRY HAS ENDED EVENTUALLY IN TRAGEDY, EVEN THOSE WHERE LARGE PAY RISES WERE GIVEN.
1840s Crushed union. 1893 … Lockout and reduction in wages. 1913 … Strike caused the Royal Navy to change their ships’ fuel to oil. They said they could not risk lack of coal supplies for their vessels. Coaling stations around the World.
That was the year of the maximum output in Britain from 3,315 pits of 287.5m tons and exports were 93m tons. 1921 strike, wage reduction.
1926 there was a General strike but that lasted only 9 days but the miners held out for a further 6 months. Arthur J Cooke Union leader quoted … ‘Not a second on the day nor a penny off the pay’ … However they returned to work for just that … more hours worked for less pay.
LATER WHEN THE INDUSTRY WAS PRIVATISED IN THE 1990s WAGES INCREASED RAPIDLY AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED OUTPUT AND ROADWAY DRIVAGE ADVANCES. HOWEVER THAT PERIOD WANED AS HIGH WAGES AND HIGH OUTPUTS PUT THE MARKETS IN JEOPARDY AND MINES WERE CLOSED AS GLOBAL WARMING WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF DIRTY POWER … COAL.
IN 1984 VALUABLE COAL ORDERS WERE LOST NEVER TO BE RECOVERED AGAIN. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF PLUS 37m TONNES AT POWER STATIONS IN RESERVE, ENOUGH TO LAST 18 MONTHS. COAL WAS STILL BEING IMPORTED FROM COLOMBIA, AUSTRALIA AND RUSSIA AT $35 A TONNE DELIVERED WHEREAS IN BRITAIN IT AVERAGED £65 A TONNE AT PIT HEAD.
BIOMASS FUEL WAS IMPORTED THEN FROM AMERICA AND BURNED AT DRAX POWER STATION.
LIKE AT A SUPERMARKET … YOU WOULD BUY THE CHEAPEST, NOT THE DEAREST WOULDN’T YOU?
ANY MINER WHO WORKED WAS CALLED A SCAB BY STRIKERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
YORKSHIRE FLYING PICKETS CREATED PROBLEMS AT SOME PITS EVEN DOING WANTON DAMAGE. CLASHES WITH POLICE ON PICKET LINES RESULTED IN INJURIES ON BOTH SIDES, SOME SERIOUSLY AND ONE PICKET KILLED AT END OF OLLERTON COLLIERY PIT LANE.
HOWEVER ON A LIGHTER NOTE POLICE AND PICKETS WERE FOUND PLAYING FOOTBALL TOGETHER AT SOME PITS IN NOTTS TO PASS THE TIME WHILST ON DUTY.
MY NORMAL WEEKEND LIFE WAS IN TURMOIL AS WERE OTHERS OF COURSE. I GENERALLY WORKED ALTERNATE OR EVERY THIRD SATURDAY MORNING TO CATCH UP ON SPECIAL JOBS TO KEEP THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT EFFICIENT, WHICH IT WAS.
My personal diary of all shifts worked throughout the overtime bans and strikes with a total of … 64 SHIFTS in 1984/85 strike … mainly weekend work. This of course greatly interfered with my home life as it did for many others. We kept the pits open but the fate of the industry had already been planned.
Also my job as Surveyor for the mine at Ollerton still required me to carry out as usual underground and surface surveys and office work etc to keep within the law and follow instructions laid down from time to time and to follow the Surveying code of practice.
I was also required to measure up any FATAL or SERIOUS ACCIDENT and create a plan to be supplied to Her Majesty’s Inspector of Mines and Safety department at Area HQ.
HOWEVER FURTHER TROUBLE AROSE LATER WHEN NACODS MEMBERS VOTED 3:2 IN FAVOUR FOR AN IMMEDIATE OVERTIME BAN STARTING SUN 19 MAY 1985.
Sun 19 MAY 1985 … UNDERGROUND … AUXILIARY FAN EXAMINATIONS at 3rd DRIFT, 9s, 11s, 14s, 16s DISTRICTS plus BOOSTER FANS … checking for a variation in heat or vibration etc. (self plus one, working together) (Job No 45) … 2pm to 6pm.
JUNE 1985
Sat 1 AUXILIARY FAN EXAMS AT 3rd DRIFT, 11s, 16s and BOOSTER FANS (self plus one, THEN WE DECIDED TO SPLIT UP AND DO HALF EACH) … 2pm to 5 pm.
Sun 2 … UNDERGROUND … FAN EXAMINATIONS at 11s and 16s. CONVEYOR BELT EXAMINATIONS FROM BUNKER to PARKGATE No1, No2 and No3 and 14s DISTRICT (self plus 3 others, split up) … (Job No 46).
Normal work resumed once more.
SO OVERALL I HAD CARRIED OUT 46 DIFFERENT JOBS OVER THE 3 STRIKES AND OVERTIME BANS. I doubt any other person had done this feat.
THE STRAIN OF CHANGING SHIFTS WAS GREAT WHEN FOR EXAMPLE ON ONE OCCASION KNOCKING OFF AT 12 Midnight, GOING HOME TO BED AND BACK AGAIN AT 6am.
These periods of unrest were not welcomed by management personnel, because it meant working at unusual hours and all shifts and all weekends and holiday periods but overall the jobs were covered by pit members and some volunteers from Area HQ and other departments, but basically we were ‘playing at it’, doing the bare necessities required by law and colliery requirements (that were different at each pit). Total 40 + 23 + 64 = 127 shifts.
Some men ended up doing 2 jobs in the same shift in future because it was found there was a lot of free time in their shift. Of course this also led to cutting the workforce numbers to improve efficiency.
Some jobs were boring that’s why men found short cuts so that they could read newspapers, books or play games etc.
We would never have known what most men did had we not done it.
The NUM Executive as mentioned before had ‘shot themselves in the foot’.
I HAD ESTIMATED IN MY WORK IN 1990 THAT THE INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE DISSOLVED BY 2025. The last mine in Notts, THORESBY closed July 2015 and the last deep mine in UK was KELLINGLEY NORTH YORKS, closed Dec 2015.
I was 10 years out. Not a bad ‘guesstimate’ really for 30 years before. I had based my assumption on the life of a pit being between 70 and 100 years and including efficiency and profitability etc.
The last OPENCAST MINE was HARTINGTON AT STAVELEY working Top Hard, Dunsil and Waterloo seams. The overburden to the seams outcropping at the surface was in the region of 10 metres max. It finished in Dec 2020. Only 5 years out. I was escorted around the site by Peter George, managing director of the company doing the excavating.
Approximately the decreasing 160,000 ex miners in the Mine Workers Pension Scheme (MPS) received a pay rise of 30% app from November 2024. The Labour Government were lobbied and agreed to share out the £1.2 billion pounds kept in the Government kitty to guarantee future pension payments
It gave some about £100 per week pay rise on their pension, accrued from profits. |
