Safety-the hard facts

A WORKERS PRESS NOTHING brings out the viciousness of the capitalist press and the Tories who stand behind it like a miners' strike. They hate and fear the strength, the solidarity and the tradition of the miners.

Now they are trying to whip up scare story about safety work in the pits and to picture the miners as stupid and stubborn men who are endangering their own future.

'CONCERNED'

As one miner told us to ignore safety when we're working and they're driving for production, and suddenly they get very concerned for safety when we're not working. Very touching!' The fact is that the powered supports which have replaced the old-style timbering on modernized faces are expensive items, and no doubt the NCB is worried if eventually any of them were irretrievably buried.

However this will not happen for many weeks— and even then only in isolated cases.

The supports have mechanically adjustable 'collars' to take varying pres sure from roof and floor.

Managerial staff are going down and making these adjustments. If they very occasionally have to take the cutting machine along the face and move everything up a few yards, the work will not do them any harm! Further trouble at CAV ABOUT 120 fitters and testers employed in the laboratory and engine-test department at CAV's plant, Acton, have begun a worka This action was decided by a meeting in the section on rouble has been brewing ince the 1971 site deal which was supposed to maintain the existing wage structure.

One Brodsworth, S Yorkshire, collier said to us: 'Deputies have always told me how much harder and better they used to do things when they were on the Now's their chance to prove it!' A more serious issue is involved.

If in the course of a long strike danger from fire or falls did arise and iuture jobs were endangered, miners would have to pose it this way: Who should we keep the pits safe for?

For the miners, or for a Coal Board which has become a panel of bosses carrying out Tory attacks?

Just as engineering workers are taking over factories to stop closures and prevent the moving of millions of pounds worth of machinery, it may well be that miners will consider occupying mines-which after all are nationalized— as the first step to workers' LOCKED UP?

Miners in Yorkshire told day of the strike that they had been told on finishing work to remove all their possessions from the personal lockers in the pithead baths. This had never been done in previous strikes.

Does it mean that the pithead baths are to be locked up as a measure against pickets and against possible occupation?

Is the same reason behind the closure of pit canteens, which normally serve cheap meals to retired miners and in some cases to miners' widows and wives?

trouble The laboratory and enginetest workers were placed second in the rates list. But they have now dropped to sixth place.

Their claim for restoration of their position has been supported by the men's union, the N London district committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering But it has been bitterly opposed by both the personnel manager and the two right28-year-old Tom Cartlidge, faceworker, said "The Tories are keeping the working class down and letting prices rise.

'But the Coal Board has hardened the miners together. The men here are 100 per cent.

'The safety were coming in, but branch meeting last Saturday structed them not to.

'All we want is a decent living wage. My father-in-law works here on the surface. He takes home £12.

'My takings are about £23, out of which £4.65 goes immediately on rent.

'I think TUC could have direct action in support.

"The postmen let down, and we're a bit dubious about leadership. At national and local level the NUM officials have always collaborated management but there's no doubt about the men.

'We're out and that's it' machine union president, was about getting support-now he's got more support than he wants.

'The men feel they. will stick out. They won't go 100 per cart, ready to fight 'Miners are Another faceworker, Brown, said miners wanted the full amount of their £5£9 claim.

"The employers are getting vicious, he added.

"Thẻ men of Pontypool should not be forgotten. Everyone should stop out until they take them back:

Tom Cartlidge, who was himself struck by a car trying to cross a picket line, says the injuries to pickets In Yorkshire. could happer all over the country.

'But why?', he asked.

'The lorry drivers are just working men like us. When the government has done with us, they will turn on engineers or whoever is next in line if they win this one. The working class has to stand together? wing convenors who fear their ability to foist deals on CAV workers in the future.

The N London district committee of the AUEW have refused to allow a representative of the Engineering Employers' Federation to attend meetings on the claim. Therefore, talks have reached a stalemate.

Already this week the works engineers' department has decided to impose an overtime ban at CAV's. apoakera. Discuss your Ideas for the expanded paper LEEDS Sunday January 16 Community Centre Quarry HIll Flate Leeds 1 Speaker:

SHEFFIELD Sunday January 16 7.30 p.m.

YS Premises

Western Works, Portobello Speaker :

Stephen Johns Make the Tory government resign!

Return a Labour government pledged to restore full employment and repeal all laws against the unions!

COVENTRY: Sunday January 16, I1 a.m. Golden Eagle, Keresley, nr Coventry. "The miners' strike and the fight against the Tories.' SW LONDON: Tuesday January 18, 8pm. Small Hall, Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor • St, sW4. Right-to-Work' campaign.

CORBY: Wednesday January 'The Right-to-Woric Centre. campaign.

Room 1 Partick Burgh Lesser Hall Merkland St Tube ONS UGS CROYDON:

January 20, 8pm.

Coombe Croydon. Suppo miners.

Special course of lectures cision of ATUA November I build revolutionary party.

TUESDAY JANUARY 18 Essential Marxism TUESDAY JANUARY 25 Economics and Politics TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1 istorical Materialism today Lecture Room 1 Digbeth Hall, Digbeth BIRMINGHAM, 8 p.m.

given by HEALY (SLL national secretary Monday January 17 .30 pM Speaker:

Stephen Johna L'ONDON Wednesday January Lower Hall Brixton Town Hall Brixton sW2 'hursday Ruskin Rd, E rt the READING: Monday January, 17, 8 p.m. Trades and • Labour Club, Minster St. "The Right to Work'.

SOUTHALL: Tuesday January 18, 8 p.m. Indian Workers' Association, The Featherstone Rd. miners' strike'.

W LONDON: Wednesday January 19, 8 p.m. The Greyhound, Becklow Rd, Acton W12.

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