Dunfermline Press reports on miners' 'All-Out Battle'

Throughout the coming months, we'll look back at how the miners' strike was reported in the Press, continuing with the front page story 'All-Out Battle' (March 16, 1984):

AS the National Union of Mineworkers' strike neared the end of the first week, both sides seemed prepared for a long siege.

The National Coal Board, showing no signs of acceding to miners' demands to "Come back to the negotiating table," issued stern warnings about the possible serious effects of a prolonged dispute.

And the NUM began setting up communication lines between Headquarters and local strike centres to keep the estimated 160,000 striking miners abreast of events.

In Dunfermline District, centres are being set up in Miners' Clubs in several towns and villages and plans are being made for a mass rally in Dunfermline on 24th March.

READ MORE: Miners' Strike 1984-85: How the Press reported the start of the strike

The NUM Scottish Executive strike-call had an almost immediate effect on West Fife pits.

The 3000 men employed at the Longannet Complex, including Castlehill and Solsgirth Collieries, showed a united front and there were no reports of men turning up for work on Monday Morning.

Around 40 men did, however, turn up for the early day shift a Comrie Colliery, and a further six for the following shift.

None crossed the picket line and Comrie Branch Chairman, Mr Bob Young, later blamed their turning up on a "misunderstanding."

"Some newspaper and radio reports on Sunday said Comrie would be working normally, but his wasn't the case."

Mr Young added that only a minor amount of picketing would take place at West Fife pits, mainly to scrutinise the movement of coal stocks. The Scottish Executive agreed on Monday to allow the free movement of coal to hospitals, schools and old people.

Said Mr Young: "Management has been co-operating by supplying lists of contractors moving coal, and we have only turned back those contractors attempting to get coal only for the ordinary household market.

"We have also been providing as much safety cover as the Coal Board wants. The NUM ourselves have organised a safety cover rota.

"We don't want another Bogside. We want to make sure we still have pits to go back to when the strike is over. But we won't go back until the NCB agrees to sit down and negotiate with Arthur Scargill about our wages and about pit closures.

"It was the NCB who called off the talks."

Several examples of miners providing extra safety cover to prevent damage to mines were apparent within the first few days of the stoppage.

One of the most serious incidents was at Solsgirth where an area of overheating in an old section of the mine was discovered last Thursday,

Enough miners were provided over the weekend to carry out sealing-off operations.

The NCB said it had been a "minor overheat."

The supply of coal from existing stocks seems likely to play an increasingly important part in the dispute.

Following several reports yesterday (Thursday) that Education Authorities were concerned that schools could be disrupted because of lack of fuel, NUM official, Mr Eric Clark, told the Press: "I can give an assurance that we are liaising at all levels with the NCB to ensure supplies to all hospitals and schools.

"There may be some difficulties in getting supplies moved between depots, but, if any local authority, hospital, or individual has a problem, they should 'phone the NUM or the
NCB.

"We are on the same wavelength as the NCB on this one."

An NCB spokesman said supplies of coal were being moved "for the moment."

He added: "We have said it could be a long and damaging dispute. We have to make sure that there is coal available for an emergency, in the event of a lengthy dispute."

Both Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath Trades Councils expressed support for the National Union of Mineworkers' action at meetings this week.

A warning that striking miners will "not be thwarted by the law" and will carry out secondary picketing, if they feel it is necessary, has come from a senior Scottish NUM official.

The pledge has been given to the Fife Federation of Trades Councils by Mr John Neilson, NUM delegate at Scotland's largest pit, Seafield, Kirkcaldy.

Mr Neilson told delegates: "This is going to be one of the dirtiest campaigns we have ever seen."

He explained that the NUM had given permission for safety teams to be sent down the Frances and Solsgirth Mines, to battle a flare-up of recurring underground fires.

This had been done, he said "to demonstrate the Union's responsible attitude towards the sale guarding of pits".

Dunfermline Press, March 16, 1984.