voted to bring forward the settlement date next March November, a decision mean a most unhappy Christmas for the Thatcher government and the National Coal Board.
The last day of the union's Jersey conference offered declaration of militancy on the issue of pit closures. Since last year the coal board has shut down nine pits. Six were open; today the number is 222. Pledged But delegates insisted that should the NCB press ahead with its plan to close the Deep Duffryn pit in south Wales, national strike action would' follow. Scargill, on Yehath of hose in Scotland, both behalf of those in Scotland, pledged ali-out action in defence of Deep Duffryn In the face of all this, Gormley appeared powerless. He was left to plead with the NCB that it should 'think again' over the Deep Duffryn to this which could turther Such humility conference.
The had promised: president, the behalf of the the Daily Express. the August. closure, and he admitted that with the demands for strike action to save the jobs, 'I can't stop it spilling over'.
was rather far removed from the statements which They came from Gormley before the NUM on Writing in the Express on 19 June 'As long as 1 am miners will never use their strength for political battles'. If Gormley thinks that strikes over pit closures and defending miners' living standards are not 'political' then he is even further removed from the real world than are the other columnists in conference resolution on Deep Duffryn is abided by, and if the Coal Board refuses to back down the miners will be out on strike by 18 But it is still too early to start stockpiling Gormley other leaders of the NUM's right have rarely won at the union's conterence.
prefer reserve manoeuvres for the union's executive which the larges and left-wing areas such as Yorkshire are under-representea.
The left in the union will need to be on their guard and to organise against any attempt of the right to ignore or override the conference decisions on pay and closures.
But at least one thing is fairly Cena When Gormley finally does retire and take his inevitable seat in the House of Lords, he is unlikely to choose the title Lord Gormley of Deep Duffryn. and their most community. THE HILLINGDON Tories in West London are not unique in their dislike of battered women. But their vindictiveness would have grave if repeated elsewhere. committee has just decided to withdraw funds from Women's Aid, a charitable organisation which helps battered women.
Over the past year, 60 women and 90 children have lived in the local refuge, and many more have called for advice and support. The two Tory councillors who visited the refuge revealed their priorities in no uncertain fashion. Councillor Paine was upset by the coffee stains and broken biscuits. Councillor Double (a local headmistress) was horrified at finding an 18-month-old child without a nappy.
Despite the recommendations of the director of social services, the Tory council has withdrawn its support. That women are battered, harassed, and subjected to unwelcome sexual attention are facts that the Tories prefer to ignore. They run counter to the traditional belief in the virtues of the family and the Church.
Hillingdon Women's Aid needs your help. For further details ring Pat Camnhell on 01-579-4291.
ANOTHER institution the Tories don't like are law centres, writes Hugh Richards. Somewhat odd for people who believe in law 'n order. No, not at all. The law centres, you see, tend to help the victims of Tory (or Labour) law 'n order. They provide badly-needed facilities for the local The South London Tories are preparing to axe three such centres, at Balham, Battersea and Gørrat Lane (Earlsfield). They plan to replace them with & body under council control.
In six weeks, 26,000 signatures were collected against the closures, but to no avail. Apart from the rights of the community, dozens of legal workers will be made redundant. A campaign is under way to help the centres survive. Further information from Mike Reid on 01-223 9666.
Hillingdon's
law centres