the beginning of the year by the miners strike. Prime Ted Heath had introduced 'Phase One' of a legally binding incomes miners. The previous year the power workers workers had been Stocks of coal were high and the right wing leadership miners' union had no stomach for The battle of Saltley Gate was an inspiration to all workers a fight.
But the government's offer of £1.90 was seen as an insult by the rank and file. A new left leadership had begun to develop around a little known official called Arthur Scargill from Yorkshire. the beginning strike on 9 January both the TUC NUM tried to limit it. 'The men are being a damn sight more militant than want them to be..
President Joe Gormley.
The feeling in the movement the Dockers refused to unload coal and most lorry drivers refused to cross picket lines. Scabs had to be paid £20 a day (worth f60 today) to break the pickets.
There were arrests throughout the strike and one miner was killed — crushed by a scab lorry. But it was the flying pickets shutting down of the fuel depot at Saltley in Birmingham that was the turning point in The fight against 'containerisation' in the docks was a fight Saltley became a symbol both for for the right to organise. It was the dockgrs who confronted the miners and the government. the industrial Relations Act head on. 130,000 tons coal Sociallet Challengo 30 Juty 1982 pago 8