FIFTEEN thousand seafarers, building workers, civil servants and engineers united in a tremendous demonstration on Wednesday 16 June, the day that 36 Welsh pits took strike action in support of As the multi-coloured lodge representing the 24,000 striking miners swung InLO cardiff's Sophia Gardens for rally, unousands of uniformed nurses, domestics and auxiliaries cheered, clapped and chanted. One miner. moved by the electric atmosphere, remarked, "It feels like scoring a goal in the World Cup!' Magic This was a truly magic dav for the Wales labour BOVCICUL. As the rally's orealisers revoricu to une cheering crowd, this was the biggest demonstration so far in the UK-wide camthe health workers.
South Wales NUM President Emlyn Williams greeted the rally. 'Today's miners strike is our expresof solidarity. When we talk about assistance this the South Wales miners mean. 90 per cent of the lodges submitted emergency resolutions demanding that the NUM leadership stand up to be counted, not just in this DUL I LEC general fight. The miners were in the gutter until the RICH PALSER spoke to miners, 1970s. Then we stood up to be counted. After the 1972 strike they have think twice about closing Last year we stood up Power To cheers he warned 'Attempts will be made to buv SOme oI vou divide and annihilate you. Don't let them do it. together, be united and we call will.
In contrast to icoresculauve Charlie Donnet, , who opposed allstrike his OU l speech, Emlyn Williams drew tumultuous applause when he said 'If I have to be critical, it is that no member of the public services should be at work today.' Derek Gregory, NUPE Divisional Officer echoed this militant response 'The government don't understand the power of argument, so we have to use the argument of power. The support and action of the given confidence to health service workers all ove Britain. Some accuse us of taking action to bring down government, that this is a John Chambers 'If we bring down the government over this par dispute so much the better, we'll be doing the country a service. Today it's the miners who are coming ›ul to support une neall workers. Health workers 'clap-on' miners in S Wales last week miners will call on us to support their struggle against pit have to aid that struggle.
I ns uremenaou: day of solidarity received an added boost when international speakers were invited to greet the crowd. A delegate from the Swedish Municipal Workers Union brought solidarity message from Swedish miner Stefan Palka was warmly