MINERS and steel workers joined other trade unionists in a lobby of the nationalised industries committee in Cardiff November.
The 150 lobbyers - infrom the South lodges ana une miniers excculive. the Llanwern and Port Talbot steel action groups Hilarly - demanded that the wontcal vi ballisa LOns industrial action on jobs.
rhi Tuls also conferen prepare plans for Carl Timbrell,an Elec.
• Union member the vorT group explained: 'It's unprintable what I could : about this nationalised in. anstres commutee. Power urine ine seer daoure they did all in their power to block strike action for jobs.
to call for national strike ac.
Il S avonl and did time Someore coo mo something about getting this government out 'WICOll the South Wale ecutive, backed this up:
! don't agree with the J/ UlL the Wales Our movement has it. traditions. WOnT start a fight it has to mean strike action.
An open letter from the orsamsers ul uc lobuy. uir Lianwern stee acuol group, spelt out unese demands. SO did a letter from Plaid Cymru which tories should be encouraged lo vacupy luci worn piales Lobby The nationalised dustries committee finally agreed to meet a delegation rom te loooy. Moss avans chairperson of the committee, • sai d:
the pash, nially naOctober 1979: 85,400 out of work 9,500 job vacancies October 1980: 129,000 out of work 4,400 job vacancies :Unemployment figures are for October 1 'issued by the Department of (Un)Employment. The average unemployment rate for Bri tain in that month was 8.5 'The difficulties we face insa e me niends ire cremer because no positive lead has come national national con trene pcne vy etnas comerences necueu prentre ground for strike action.' A subsequent meeting of lobbyers considered the out CollIC meeting with the TUC committee. Davies, chairperson of the Lianwerr allull remarked:
We are in a stronger posi. tion after today.
achieved something through our lobby. We can now go back to Unemployment rate 7.9% 9,995 school levers LAMPETER our plants and say that any action we take will ville the backing beşinning of the year. couldn't that the The Port Talbot action group and NUM represen. latves agreea wiin Inis but to Moss F Evans' that ; decid • they don"
vant action then today's decision will be ingless', Carl Timbrell add. ed:
'We must now turn to the steel unions' leaders and make sure that they take a lead for industrial action against redundancies.
SHOTTON, ex-steel town: 14.6% out of work a rural area: 7o vUL OI WOrK EBBW VALE: 16.7% out PORT TALBOT, OT WOrk STeR TOvvT, 12.7% out of work CARDIFF Electricians' Union branch secretary, Port Talbot steel plant:
'We know the steel and coal industries won't last another three years of 1 ruicet. target has to be lo ger na of me lorg government Even if the TUC choose a different target Tories' minds, they will one ury lo chance ure still need industrial action.
Vothing else will have an enece.
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udine wales deles NU M
How unemployment in Wales has grown and grown