The Miners' Strike 1984-5: The events

Submitted by Daniel_Randall on 24 September, 2004 - 12:00

Continuing our timeline of the events of the strike...

26 September: National Coal Board offers pit deputies, NACODS, a compromise package.

28 September: High Court rules NUM strike was “unlawful” because there has been no national ballot. The action has been brought by two scab miners. The legal action parallels the new Tory anti-union law which have come into force in the course of the strike, requiring ballots for all strikes, but that law is not actually used. The court took it upon itself to interpret the NUM’s rule book, and declared the strike unlawful. NACODS ballot result announced, an 82.5% majority for strike.

29 September: NCB/NUM agree to hold separate exploratory talks.

1 October: overwhelming support for the NUM at the Labour Party Conference, whilst NUM/NACODS meet NCB. NUM President served with a High Court writ whilst sitting in the NUM delegation. The National Executive of the NUM reaffirms that the strike action is official despite the court decision.

2 October: rail workers are sent home for refusing to move coal.

4 October: the High Court gives NUM five days to obey the interlocutory injunction and to call the strike off. On 10 October the court fines the NUM £200,000.

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